TRAVERSE CITY -- Another downtown public parking deck may rise on West Front Street, just as Old Town deck construction swings into gear.
Traverse City officials are working toward a public parking deck in conjunction with local developer Jerry Snowden's proposed RiverWest development at Front and Pine streets. Construction for a west-end deck is estimated at $10 million, while Snowden's adjacent private development is expected to cost $14 million.
The idea is to provide more public parking on downtown's west side to promote additional economic developments, city officials said.
"I think we'll get more businesses over there if we do it," said Commissioner MaryAnn Moore. "I do want a west-side deck, but the timing, I don't know. I think we're going to need one, but maybe two or three years out."
City voters in 2006 shot down plans for the city to spend up to $16 million to bond a west-side parking deck as part of a proposed development pushed by Federated Properties.
R. Ben Bifoss, city manager, agreed more parking is needed to spur growth.
"I think we won't see additional development on the west end until we address the parking issues," he said.
A possible west-end deck stands to receive $5.49 million in state and local brownfield redevelopment funding, as well as $6.8 million from local tax capture. That money would be used to pay off bonds needed for construction, said Bryan Crough, community development director.
Last week, the city's Downtown Development Authority board approved contracts for a design study and a property appraisal. City commissioners were meant to discuss the project at their Monday night meeting, but lengthy talks on other topics sidelined parking deck conversation.
Commissioners may discuss the RiverWest and parking deck plans at a study session in mid-December, with possible consideration of design and appraisal contracts later that month, Bifoss said.
The DDA chose Rich & Associates, Inc., of Southfield, for a design feasibility study to cost no more than $9,500, and also selected Traverse City-based Northern Michigan Real Estate Consultants for a $3,465 property appraisal.
Snowden said he's waiting to proceed on RiverWest until city officials decide how to proceed with parking plans.
"I'm in a holding pattern right now," he said.
A parking deck would be separate from RiverWest, a development planned to include commercial office space, residential units, a small restaurant and cinema. RiverWest is projected to create as many as 175 new jobs and $33 million in new capital investment, Snowden said.
A start date is between one and three years away, he said.
Meanwhile, work is under way on the city's $10 million Old Town parking deck on the block bordered by Lake Avenue and Cass, Union and Eighth streets.
