WPCNR MAPLE AVENUE PARKER. By John F.Bailey. December 16, 2005. UPDATED 5:15 p.m. E.S.T. UPDATED DEC. 18, 8:30 A.M. E.S.T.: A news report trumpeting the coming of two new parking garages on Maple Avenue to begin as part of the 2006-07 capital projects budget, one involving a new parking garage at Longview and Maple Avenues, appear premature this evening.
Today, WPCNR learned from Dawn French, a Community Relations Spokesperson for the White Plains Hospital Center handling the Longview & Maple parking garage project in partnership with the city, is still under consideration. She told WPCNR that the status of the proposed 600-space parking garage for the Longview and Maple site is “uncertain” at this time, then after WPCNR reported this Ms. French contacted us to say, "I know nothing about the status of it," and that she hoped to have a person with the hospital clarify the situation on where the garage project is on Monday, but no one was available today.
Saturday, White Plains Councilperson Rita Malmud reports to WPCNR : "The senior citizen residential and garage project proposed for the corner of Maple and Longview has not yet received final City approval."
The spokesperson could not confirm for WPCNR whether the financial arrangements of the project have been completed with the City of White Plains, or what the details were and how they presently relate the the Sunrise living facility planned for Maple & Cromwell Place.
Al Moroni, Director of Parking for the city told WPCNR the original deal was for the city to build the garage, with the White Plains Hospital Center sharing approximately half the spaces, and the hospital reimbursing the city for the parking fees, and sharing the debt service. The garage is also scheduled to cede 70 parking spaces to the Sunrise Community, the adult assisted living facility planned for a lot on the corner of Maple and Cromwell Place.
The Director of Parking, Al Moroni, explained that the Longfield and Maple garage had not yet gone to the Common Council, because of questions on construction that had not yet been resolved. Moroni said there is a water table problem on the site and the garage would have to be built above ground. At present, Moroni said the project was put at $12 to $13 million.
Calls to the Mayor’s Office to ascertain where the Longview Garage project stood were not returned.
Commenting on report of a second garage project reported aimed for Maple Avenue, Al Moroni said the only other construction of a new parking garage on Maple was being looked at for Waller and Maple (behind Dooley Mac’s) which would hold spaces for 500 to 700 cars at a cost now of a projected $9 Million. Moroni reports that project, though, is not on the horizon for 2006-2007. He said it has been pushed out to 2011.
Moroni told WPCNR that only garage construction scheduled for 2006-07 is not on Maple Avenue, but instead will take place at The Galleria. It is an extensive refurbishing of the The Galleria—Macy’s garage for $2 Million. According to Moroni, the project would install new “more reflective” lighting throughout all levels of the garage, more security-conscious, and attractive aluminum and glass entrance to all levels of the mall, more secure stairways, and the replacement of individual parking meters with a “multi-space meter system.” He said the Mills Corporation would be paying 50% of the cost for the renovation.
Moroni, in an expansive mood, noted to WPCNR that the city is also looking at building a multi-level garage in the open air parking lot adjacent to the present TransCenter, because there are presently 250 White Plains residents on the waiting list for parking permits at the current TransCenter. He said that is a ways off too.
The reality of what garages are or are not going to be built in 2006-2007 should be made clear Monday afternoon at 4 when the Capital Projects Board meets Monday, December 19 at 4 in the Mayor’s Conference Room.
