Centre City garage open for permit holders
The Centre City parking garage is operational for people with monthly parking permits.
Butler parking manager Jim Chiprean said a test run for the garage, located at the corner of McKean and Jefferson streets, was done Saturday during the city's annual Spirit of Christmas Parade.
“It went pretty well,” Chiprean said. “We just have to fine-tune it a little bit.”
Chiprean said that fine-tuning includes directional arrows and exit signs. The security system has been installed.
Gates and kiosks for non-permit parkers still have to be installed and programmed. Chiprean estimated that they should be ready by the start of 2017, but he wouldn't commit to a date.
“That's still up in the air to see how the programming goes,” he said.
Once the gates are in place, permit parkers will be given key cards that they can use to enter and exit the parking garage.
The parking garage is a four-floor, 239-space structure. It is part of the $13.2 million Centre City project, along with a 76-room Marriott Springhill Suites that is under construction next to it.
Project manager Joe Saeler is satisfied with the completion of the garage.
“At the end of the day we got a structurally sound building, a nice garage that is going to be long-lasting,” he said. “That was part of the design. The whole team, Gateway Engineers, Thomas Construction, Reno Bros., along with Merit Electrical, did a nice job.”
Saeler said the project was finished under budget, and while the exact number has not been finalized, he estimated it is between $20,000 to $30,000 under budget.
“I think city council was a great team member,” he said. “They were there to help in any situation, and I think everybody did an excellent job, and that's what allowed us to come ahead of the budget and be on time with the project.”
Anyone interested in buying a monthly parking permit for the Centre City parking garage may do so at the Butler City Police Department for $60.
