A group of city business owners is petitioning against the parking authority’s decision not to build a parking garage as part of the Centre City project.

The authority on Sept. 24 decided to build a 75-space surface lot instead of a 225-space parking garage because of the cost of the garage.

Authority treasurer Jeff Smith estimated the surface lot would cost about $450,000 — about one-tenth the price of the parking garage.

However, the surface lot would be only for the project’s proposed Marriott Springhill Suites hotel and its guests, leaving businesses in the neighborhood wondering where their customers will park.

“Existing businesses and property owners are concerned this will be detrimental to businesses and their tenants,” said Chelynne Curci, the Main Street Manager for Butler Downtown.

Curci’s nonprofit group is leading the petition for the group of business owners that will present it to city officials.

“We were approached to serve as the collection point,” Curci said. “We feel it’s a good way to have a collective voice.”

Russ Hearn, owner of two buildings at 138 and 140 E. Jefferson St., is one of the organizers of the petition.

The petition demands that the parking authority fully fund and build a parking garage as part of the Centre City project, which also includes a Rite Aid Pharmacy under construction on Main Street.