Mayor promises more 'reasonable' bid for Pelissier parking garage conversion is coming
Mayor Drew Dilkens says a more "reasonable" estimate for the cost to convert retail in the Pelissier Street parking garage will be presented to council during its meeting on August 8.
Four bids for the work that ranged from $888,000 to nearly double the $507,000 estimate prepared by city staff caused an outcry from councillors and former tenants of the structure alike.
Youssef Gereige, who owned a hair salon in the garage before being evicted to make way for more parking spots, said the high price tag has given the city a chance to review its decision to ditch retail.
Councillors Chris Holt and Rino Bortolin also raised concerns, with Holt arguing council had been given a "bum number" and Bortolin calling the bids a "complete game changer."
But Dilkens said the $507,000 figure was calculated five years ago and added city administration has been working with the low bidder to search for ways to "value engineer and remove costs."
The new number could stop his council colleagues from tossing around the parking structure like a "political football," he added.
"I still think the cost that will be proposed to city council is a reasonable cost and the best decision to be made on behalf of taxpayers," Dilkens said, declining to provide an exact figure, but adding it will be "less than $800,000."
Mayor says city needs 300 more parking spots
The mayor points to the area's hot economy as one reason why the cost of converting the garage has seemingly ballooned.
"This isn't the only project… that it's come back over budget," he said. "It's just something we'll have to deal with as a city."
Dilkens argues that regardless of the cost, the city needs more parking and pointed to wait lists at the Pelissier and Goyeau garages as evidence. Once a downtown high school and the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts opens at least 300 new spots will be needed, he added.
"The city should not be in the retail business in that particular space. We have a demand for parking and that's the role we should play," stated the mayor. "This isn't about re-debating the whole decision on whether or not to convert it to parking. That decision has already been made."
