>Citing their desire to avoid the commonplace delays & cost overruns associated with municipal construction projects (lesson learned with the Village Hall fiasco, thankfully), Village Council members last night informally approved plans to have a private corporation build and operate the proposed downtown parking garage.
An as yet to be created municipally managed redevelopment agency would designate the area intended for garage construction, and take whatever steps are necessary to acquire needed property (hint: eminent domain). Following the assembly of all required parcels, the designated private corporation would build and operate the garage. Funding/leasing arrangements have not been finalized.
At this time, Village Council members want the garage constructed on the west side of Walnut Street, between Franklin and Ridgewood Avenues. Property said to be under consideration for “redevelopment” includes lots occupied by The Town Garage, Just Our Shoes, and a strip of land behind stores along the east side of Oak Street.
