Council approves fix for McIntyre St. parking garage

North Bay City Council has set the wheels in motion to repair a multi-level concrete parking garage in the heart of the city.

During Monday's regular meeting, council approved the awarding of a contract in the amount of $993,150 for rehabilitation work to the McIntyre Street parking garage.

The structure is showing its years in terms of wear and tear and council says major repairs need to be done, sooner rather than later.

City Mayor, Al McDonald, says the work is deemed necessary for the continued safe use of the parking garage.

“It has been identified that repairs have to be made” says McDonald, referring to a 2010 assessment study done on the premises.

Council says they see this as a significant investment in their ongoing commitment to the central downtown area with regards to infrastructure maintainability and accessibility in the form of parking.

“It's very important for the Downtown Improvement Area that the parking garage remains, so we have to put that capital investment in it,” says McDonald.

Although the city does generates revenue from the metered spots, McDonald pointed to the fact that the ongoing charges for parking are part of the funds that allow the city to continue to maintenance and provide the spaces to the residents and tourists that require parking to access local attractions.

“It is an investment from the taxpayers but it's also a way to show our support,” says McDonald.

“That's why we're going to continue to invest in the downtown core,” he says.

Chair of Community Services, Councillor Dave Mendicino, says the City couldn't continue leaving the parking facility in the condition it's in.

“It’s aging infrastructure that needs to be replaced, no different from underground work and no different from our arenas,” says Mendicino.

“We either put in the dollars or we have to close it, which is certainly not an option.”