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The subcommittee devoted to Houghton’s parking deck project meets Tuesday at noon in the council chambers. There is also a chance to view it online through the city’s Facebook page. While the issue of overall downtown development will be addressed through a Pre-Charrette workshop, and perhaps a full process, City Manager Eric Waara says the parking deck needs to be looked at sooner, ideally within the next three to four months.
Houghton put several projects on hold to save up money in its general fund for a 10-year fix for the parking deck back in 2012. Waara says he would like to avoid that outcome again, while also staving off a sizable tax increase. The structures are nearly 50 years old and are no longer built in northern climates due to environmental stress that occurs from the freezing and thawing cycle during the winter. Waara says an engineering assessment two years ago already reduced several functions of the parking deck.
The city has used nearly $2 million in general fund revenues on the deck since 2006.
