The Derby Parking Garage is not in danger of collapsing, but there are 64 spots in the structure where the potential for falling concrete poses a threat to people and vehicles.
Those spots should be kept off-limits and the city should set up barriers to keep people away, according to a report issued Tuesday (March 4) by Prime AE, an engineering firm in Rocky Hill.
In an effort to keep concrete from falling on people and cars, the Aldermen voted Tuesday to keep the garage closed until the Derby Parking Authority can give the Aldermen a plan on how the authority will address the 64 trouble spots.
The authority then has to implement the plan, which will consist of putting up nets on the ceiling to protect the public from falling concrete, along with sectioning off parts of the garage from the public (including vehicles). It is meant to be a temporary measure, not a permanent fix.
Prime AE, the engineering firm, inspected the parking garage shortly after the Derby Board of Aldermen voted 5 – 4 Feb. 27 to close the structure pending an engineer’s report.
The report states that the garage can safely reopen, as long as Derby follows the recommended safety measures.
At the same time, the report acknowledges the information in it comes from a “very cursory evaluation” of the structure.
The areas where concrete is in danger of falling are marked with red “X” spots throughout the document, which is embedded at the end of this post.
The Aldermen closed the garage last week after safety concerns about the structure were aired by an engineer hired to assess the building by the Derby Parking Authority, the independent public agency that oversees the garage and parking meters in downtown Derby.
In addition, Alderman Carmen DiCenso appeared at the Feb. 27 Aldermen meeting with a large chunk of concrete that had allegedly fallen off the structure.
At the March 4 meeting, DiCenso made a statement defending his board’s decision.
DiCensco said he recently attended a meeting of the Derby Parking Authority and was given a tour of the structure. At that meeting, members of the parking authority indicated they wanted the garage to close because of the safety concerns.
The Aldermen’s decision was not a knee-jerk decision, DiCenso said.
Click the play button below to listen to DiCenso’s statement:
The parking authority has been pushing for a public vote to approve borrowing money for repairs to the garage, which is nearing the end of its lifespan. The repairs could cost as much as $7 million, according to the Derby Parking Authority. The authority has also requested the city look for grant money to fix the garage.
The Feb. 27 meeting, once Aldermen started discussing closing the garage out of safety concerns, triggered a brief argument between Leo Moscato, Jr., the parking authority’s director, and Alderman David Lenart.
Moscato struck a more conciliatory tone with the Aldermen March 4, urging the public officials to work together to find solutions to the problems at the garage. He even suggested the Parking Authority would pay for the temporary measures to protect the public.
But Moscato made things weird when Barbara DeGennaro, president of the Board of Aldermen, asked Moscato for an estimated time frame regarding the temporary fixes.
When Moscato saw the Valley Indy was recording his statement, he turned his back on the camera, causing him to address the Aldermen in profile while standing in the back of the room.
Moscato was then facing Ray DiGiovanni, Mayor Anita Dugatto’s brother, who was using a camcorder to record the Aldermen meeting.
Moscato then walked to the front of the room, presumably in the interest of government transparency.
The video below shows a snippet of the exchange. The article continues below.
In addition to installing barriers throughout the garage, the Prime AE report recommends Derby “perform a thorough condition assessment of the garage and develop alternatives for rehabilitation or replacement.” The assessment should be completed by June 3, the report states, to determine whether the Derby Parking Garage should be:
- Repaired: “Repair or replace severely damaged concrete and steel throughout the building.”
- Partially replaced: “Replace the floor slabs and rehabilitate the existing steel frame.”
- Fully replaced: “Demolish and rebuild a new garage.”
Those options aren’t entirely new ideas in Derby.
Here are previously published stories on the condition of the Derby Parking Garage (on Thompson Place, between Olivia and Elizabeth streets):
Q & A with the Derby Parking Authority (2010)
Crew Deals with Parking Garage Craters (2010)
Anyone Want To Buy A Parking Garage? (2011 guest column by a member of the parking authority)
Spring Referendum Could Include Millions for Derby Parking Garage (2013)
Derby Parking Garage Referendum Parked, for Now (2013)
Derby Referendum Taking Shape (2013)
Garage Referendum Going In the Right Direction (2013)
Derby Parking Garage repairs won’t be going to referendum (2013)
Derby Aldermen Close Crumbling Parking Garage (2014)
The problems at the parking garage are contributing to a gloomy economic forecast for Derby residents. Late last year voters approved borrowing $5 million to replace roofs on three of the four public school buildings.
The city’s sewers need some $20 to $30 million in repairs, too, a borrowing amount that is also supposed to go to voters at some point.
The report:
