Library Lane parking garage set for partial opening for first day of Ann Arbor Art Fair
These cones blocking the Fifth Avenue entrance ramp to the new Library Lane parking garage are expected to be removed before Wednesday morning as the garage officially opens.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
"It's going to be opening," said Art Low. "We're going to be running it. Obviously we can't use all the floors because there's still construction going on, but we're going to use a couple of the floors and hopefully have a successful grand opening for Art Fair."
The garage ceremonially opened last Thursday, and for a few hours members of the public could use it. But it's been closed since while some last-minute work is being done, including inspections, and officials were uncertain until now if it'd be open for Art Fair.
Work was still being done on the third level of the garage as of Monday morning.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Low said at least the first two levels will be open for Art Fair, and possibly a portion of the third level. But construction work is ongoing at the bottom level.
"I know there are small finishing things being done, but I'm out of the loop where things stand specifically," Low said.
The Christman Co. served as manager of the project. Susan Pollay, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, said there wasn't a guaranteed completion date for the $50 million garage stipulated in the DDA's contract with Christman.
Amy Sullivan, project manager for the Christman Co., said state inspections of the elevators were done on Tuesday. She said the garage has been issued a temporary certificate of occupancy for Art Fair by the city, but a final certificate is pending.
"We're in good shape. This afternoon it's just been some minor touch up," she said on Tuesday afternoon. "We've just been going around doing a lot of last-minute things and we're actually very comfortable with things opening up tomorrow."
At this point, Sullivan said, not much work is going on inside the garage. She said there's a little more painting to do, but that's about it.
"We're very comfortable with where things are," she said. "Things look great and it's great to finally be at that point where we can turn things over."
Low said the garage will start welcoming vehicles at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Premium rates apply for Art Fair. It's $12 to park during the day and $6 after 5 p.m.
The elevators for the garage still aren't in service. Low said Republic Parking will have two four-person golf carts available to chauffeur anyone who wants to avoid the stairs.
"We'll run people who request assistance up and down the garage," he said. "We'll have a cell phone number on signs they can call and that'll be answered by one of the golf cart drivers."
There also will be a team of greeters to assist people coming and going from the garage and explaining the process to motorists, Low said.
Users of the garage will be able to pay either by credit card as they exit the garage in their cars, or they can pay — before they get back in their cars — by cash or credit card at a cashier booth or an automated pay station on the first level.
For an extra $5.60 fee, a private company called Park n Party is teaming up with Republic Parking and the DDA to offer a prepaid reservation option for all four days of Art Fair.
In addition to the new Library Lane garage, reserved spots can be had any of the DDA's parking structures, including Fourth and Washington, Ann and Ashley, Liberty Square, Fourth and William, Forest Avenue, and Maynard Street.
PHOTO GALLERY: Library Lane underground parking garage opens to public in downtown Ann Arbor
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
RUKiddingMe
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
David Cahill, thanks for getting and letting us know the answer to the completion date in the Christman contract. It makes me wonder if: 1) One of the OTHER bidders WOULD have felt comfortable signing it; most service provider contracts make many, many allowances for unforeseen delays; it's not like you either promise one date or you don't promise any date. It seems like any provider worth their salt knows how to document contingencies, if/thens, implications, etc. 2) If we wound up paying even a single penny OVER the constantly-publicized 50-something million. 3) Christman should change their logo so it's someone with a shout-bubble, angrily shouting "Christ, man!!"
JRW
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 4:25 p.m.
Has there been any discussion of what security, if any, exists in the garage mahal? I've read nothing about any security cameras, emergency phones, etc., installed in this underground sinkhole. Maybe I missed it, but has anyone heard anything about security?
amlive
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
No security that I know of, certainly no cameras. I guess spending like a drunken stepfather is okay, but looking like big brother to some libertarians is not.
AAPS Student
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
This project is a boondoggle!!! The AADL public library project is also a boondoggle
Brad
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
The bus riders don't get a "free" ride - they pay like 20% of the actual cost.
Bonsai
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.
yeah, all those bus riders and book readers getting a free ride again -- get a grip people
Brad
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.
The new Blake Transit Center as well. I know the DDA likes to call 5th Ave the "civic corridor", but it sure sounds like "Boondoggle Boulevard" may be far more appropriate!
annarborfan
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
Library Lane? What a silly name. Fifth Avenue should have been incorporated into the "name" for this garage.
JRW
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
Exactly. "Lane" implies a very small street, hardly representative of 5th Ave. Who dreamed this up? Susan Pollay and co?
JRW
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
So, this "ceremonial opening" (which was only declared ceremonial after the fact) was orchestrated for one reason: Pollay PR before the Art Fair, to make it APPEAR that the garage mahal had actually opened in time for Art Fair, which is not accurate, of course. One more example of how Pollay spins this debacle day after day after day after day...... "It's going to be opening," said Art Low. "We're going to be running it. Obviously we can't use all the floors because there's still construction going on, but we're going to use a couple of the floors and hopefully have a successful grand opening for Art Fair." Oh, it's opening (again) but we can't use all the floors since construction is going on. After a "ceremonial opening" and another Art Fair "opening" for a couple floors, it's opening! Give us a break. This entire debacle is a joke. How about some real accountability, as other posters have suggested: Original estimates, timelines, delays (with specific explanations), cost overruns, and the total, final cost to taxpayers. I hope AA dot com does some real investigating and provides a full accounting of this garage mahal, taxpayer sinkhole.
JRW
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.
"Susan Pollay, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, said there wasn't a guaranteed completion date for the $50 million garage stipulated in the DDA's contract with Christman." This is the understatement of the decade. Apparently, this let her off the hook re: informing the residents of A2 about the constant delays, providing reasons for the delays, and resulting in a total lack of communication over the last three years.
David Cahill
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
Saints be praised! Thanks, amlive, for confirming that the structure is really open. I asked Susan Pollay if the contract with Christman included penalties for late completion. She said no, because Christman wouldn't sign such a contract. They said they had no idea what they might find underground which would delay the project.
JRW
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
Christman wouldn't sign a contract??? And the city went ahead anyway???? All of these city officials need to be fired for incompetence.
David Cahill
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:13 p.m.
The claim of a "partial opening" at 5:00 this morning is great news, if true. Considering all the broken promises and missed deadlines, has anyone actually witnessed a motor vehicle not associated with the DDA or the contractor entering the structure this morning? If so, could they please post a summary of their experience here?
amlive
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.
Viewing from Fifth and Liberty, it does appear to be open with an "Art Fair Parking $12" sign and a yellow vest at the top of the ramp. I'll probably walk down to check it out in a little while, but it does appear to be "partially open" as the latest promise stated. Hey, make enough deadlines and you're bound to get one right eventually.
Brad
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
I just read the part about the elevators not working and the golf carts. The "Garage Mahal" has caddies! Do we do it up different or what??
Brad
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
""We're very comfortable with where things are,"" That's our city - screwing up, and always "comfortable" with it. Sounds like she's been getting coached by Susan Pollay.
AAPS Student
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.
I am surprised that she is comfortable with the blind spot (see above) it is so dangerous!
SEC Fan
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:02 p.m.
no guaranteed completion date in the contract? hope it was at least a fixed price contract. fire the buyer(s).
brimble
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:47 a.m.
Previously, the failure to be fully open today was attributed to the elevator inspections being incomplete. Now, in addition to that, construction is incomplete. Please do publish a story reviewing the timeline of planning, landmark events over the construction process, original schedules and costs, and then setbacks and overrruns. This more comprehensive accounting might be in the domain of the Chronicle instead, but it needs to be done.
RUKiddingMe
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:05 a.m.
Holy COW, yesterday I experienced what greenstriper mentioned; that is CRAZY dangerous. There HAS to be some traffic, or city, or SOME kind of code that that violates. Everyone reading this needs to go into that post office parking lane, and exit out onto Fifth (the only way to exit, BTW). Seriously. You won't believe it. Oh, and be careful.
Brad
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
Please look out for bikes there. The bike lane is up against the ramp so people pulling out of the post office have zero chance of seeing them until they are right there. So next time one of you is going on and on about why we should listen to the "expert" traffic engineers here, just remember that one of them approved this arrangement.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 10:53 a.m.
@Greenstriper: Great point! In addition to the dangerous blind spot pulling into Fifth Avenue from the post office parking lot, the curb cut is is the wrong spot, so you have to pull out into the traffic perpendicularly crossing into the second far lane to avoid jumping over the curve!
whojix
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 4:23 a.m.
Two weeks, two articles from AA.com about library lane opening to the public. Yet they're still doing construction on the lower levels? What is going on here? This debacle stopped being funny a few delays and many millions ago.
ranger007
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 3:32 a.m.
How much did it cost them to get the "partial" opening?
greenstriper
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:38 a.m.
I don't care much about when it opens. I want to know how long it will take them to do something about the terrible blind spot that the entry ramp structure makes for anyone trying to pull out onto Fifth Avenue from the Post Office parking lot. There is no way at all to see oncoming traffic when pulling out of the driveway. All you see in gray wall.
merlin07
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
Closing your eyes and barreling into traffic is not recommended at the best of times. But this is what is happening because you can't see around the huge blind spot. Guess it will take a series of accidents to drive this home.
AAPS Student
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
It is very dangerous, someone should do something about it. I agree!
JRW
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
My son saw the same thing when he went to the downtown post office. He guaranteed there will be accidents because of it. How could they have been so stupid with the design? Oh, that's right. Christman didn't sign a contract.....so they couldn't be held to things like the safety of traffic patterns in the areas affected by the entry ramp structure.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 10:46 a.m.
I agree! It's very dangerous!!
RUKiddingMe
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
"There also will be a team of greeters to assist people coming and going from the garage and explaining the process to motorists, Low said." If a parking structure is so complex that you need teams of people explaining to drivers how it works, something is wrong with the design. Does anyone know how much the OTHER downtown structures are charging for parking? Are they $12 also? Man, it sure would be nice if we found out if we got any money back for the delays, or what the delays were all about, since the sinkhole one can't explain 2 years. A2.com, I know that it's safe to ignore about 99.999999% of online comments, but it seems like it would actually be good to do a story on why this project took 3 (or is it 4. Is it 5?) times as long as initially projected, had multiple bad open dates, etc. etc. And if we get money back. You know, like if there's any accountability here. This is a lot of money, and it affected a lot of people. No news to be had there? Didn't you have a story about a sign being painted somewhere? We can't get something at LEAST as newsworthy out of this 3-year long tremendously expensive project?
Kyle Mattson
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
Per the Art Fair website all designated fair lots are set at a rate of $12: http://artfairs.visitannarbor.org/parkingandshuttle/
AAPS Student
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:46 p.m.
@RUKiddingMe, the other downtown parking structures charge 7-9 dollars at most throughout the day and night. No other parking structure charges $12 dollars. This project took 4 times as long as initially projected. I doubt any money will be given back. I don't know about you, but I won't be parking in the structure anytime soon. All parking spaces downtown are too overpriced! One of the many reasons why I never go downtown.
motorcycleminer
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
Whoop-dee-do......
genericreg
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
is cell phone working underground? "We'll have a cell phone number on signs they can call and that'll be answered by one of the golf cart drivers."
amlive
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 9:21 p.m.
Still waiting for aa.com to do some real investigation and reporting as to how and why this project became such a debacle. Who on earth negotiated this contract with no guaranteed completion date? Were there no penalties for delay or incentives for timely completion? What specific complications set the full completion an entire year beyond the original schedule? It certainly wasn't the weather, so was it just complete ineptitude on part of the planners? Is this system so buffered from accountability that there is not a single person who can be held accountable for such failures or agonizingly prolonged inconveniences to local businesses? I hate to be a heckler, and I know you like to focus on the positive in your blogs, but the lack of any real reporting of the whos, hows, and whys related to this mess is getting to be absurd. Come on, please dig up some real answers here.
Madeleine Borthwick
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
amlive, hasn't there been enough DIGGING....? yuk-yuk! seriously though, I do get your point.
glenn thompson
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
"Is this system so buffered from accountability that there is not a single person who can be held accountable for such failures or agonizingly prolonged inconveniences to local businesses?" Yes.