Greensburg OKs $681K contract to repair deteriorating parking garage
The sign in front of Greensburg's Robert A. Bell Garage advertises “PRKING.” It's missing its “A,” and that's the least of the garage's problems.
Corrosion and cracking concrete are apparent throughout the structure at 106 W. Otterman St., and it's only a matter of time before it turns into a serious problem, according to city officials.
“It's going to be a safety concern soon,” said Mayor Robert Bell, whose father, a former Greensburg mayor, is the garage's namesake.
That's why City Council approved a $681,888 deal Monday with Nathan Contracting of Allison Park to repair and rehabilitate the structure.
The money will come from a $3 million loan, which council also approved Monday.
The loan, which the city will pay back over 10 years with 2.04 percent interest, will be used to fund infrastructure improvements, mostly renovating the city's aging parking lots and garages.
The five-level Bell garage was built in the '90s and can hold 400 vehicles.
Ron Barner works downtown and parks there every weekday. He's seen the decay firsthand.
“I think the joints are in really bad shape,” he said.
He's started examining the ceilings before parking, trying to avoid the worst areas where crumbling concrete might drop on his car or water might leak down from the upper levels.
“I think it is need of some fixing up,” he said.
He welcomes the announcement of a renovation project.
Four contractors submitted bids for the Bell garage rehabilitation project. Nathan Contracting's was the cheapest, coming in more than $95,000 beneath the next-lowest.
Melissa Giron has been parking in the garage all summer, and although she hasn't noticed the same level of disrepair as Barner, she said the building is showing its age.
“There's a little bit of wear and tear from years of use,” she said.
Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6646 or jtierney@tribweb.com.
