'Bridge' Carport Planning Ok'd
Authorization for the city administration to proceed with plans for an addition to the Maynard St. with a "bridge" over Maynard was given by the City Council last night. Plans call for extending the present carport across the street to be situated atop an addition to the J. L. Jacobson Co. which is to be constructed in the near future. It would add 208 spaces to the present 584-space carport. After receiving a report from City Administrator Guy C. Larcom Jr. on the project, the council unanimously voted to have the city proceed with plans, specifications and estimated costs, and also that the city enter a preliniinary agreement for air rights above Jacobson's and easements involved in construction. Larcom said the city would lease the air rights from Jacobson's at a nominal sum, perhaps $1 per year. A portion of the cost of operating the proposed addition is expected to be paid by developers of the 27-story apartment building proposed at William and Maynard, their contribution to be up to $12,000 annually. Larcom also said there is a possibility of obtaining operating funds from the State St. merchants. "The structure would be built by the Building Authority under a long-term lease agreement with the city," Larcom said. He estimated the city would be requircd to pay $30,000 annually for principal and interest. "The city parking system as of the past audit had a year-end net revenue of $85,000," Larcom added. The main advantage of extending the Maynard carport Larcom said, is that there would be no land costs involved. Cost of the extension will be between $400,000 and S500.000, Larcom said. If land has to be purchased it would cost an additional $200,000 to $400,000, he said. Disadvantages listed by Larcom included the addition of another 200 cars entering and leaving the carport, and location of the additional space beginning at the third level, requiring drivers to go that high to use it. L a r c o m said the disadvantages are partially offset by the possibility of opening the Thompson St. exit to short-term 'parkers at the lower levels and, also by the fact that the new addition would be closer to the State St. shopping area. An elevator would be located at the northeast section of the earport and would open onto al relocated alley. Eventually, Larcom said, "it would be hoped that there would be an arcade or escalator access from the first floor of the carport to State St. directly." Larcom said the Maynard carport is at 90 per cent occupancy rnost of the time and fills up once or twice monthly "so that the urgency of this expansion is obvious." The city administrator alsol told the council he had talked with landscape architects Johnson Johnson & Roy about the aesthetics of having a building across the street. He said they believed it could be an asset to the city if handled properly.