Oct 21, 2021

Aggieville parking garage on schedule

Posted Oct 21, 2021 12:47 AM

By Scott Edger 
Little Apple Post 

Crews are currently completing the outer skin of the Aggieville Parking Garage, tacking up heavy duty scaffolding as they work on the exterior facia and decorative brickwork.

Cooperative weather has helped the project stay on time and budget. City Project Coordinator Ken Hays provided updates on the construction, and said the facility is expected to open on schedule in early spring of 2022. 

Plans call for about 450 stalls in the Aggieville Parking Garage. 

“Parking has always been an issue,” Hays said. “This will greatly improve access.” 

With work progressing nicely on the current phase, several projects over the next five years will smooth transportation and commercial activity in the city. The next phase is to work on North Manhattan Avenue from the park south to Bluemont Avenue. The foundation for the Aggieville Parking Garage was poured late last winter. 

The mass of the parking structure’s interior is all but complete save the rough electrical for lighting. The side of the structure facing North Manhattan and Laramie Streets will have storefront on the lower level, so Hays said finishing the interior for future tenants in those areas is still progressing. 

According to Hays, the structural integrity and stabilization of the old buildings surrounding the new parking garage has been engineered into the design. 

"We’ve had good luck with how this project as progressed,” Hays said. "It’s been a really smooth process."

The City Commission is studying future options, but at this time there are no plans in place to charge for parking in the new structure. 

The parking garage will obviously make access in and out of Aggieville and the surrounding areas far easier for drivers and pedestrians, but it also makes the space far more appeaing to potential business. 

“The potential economic impact is huge,” said Vivienne Uccello, Manhattan public information officer, â€śbecause it opens up traffic in the area so more visitors can come to the local businesses. 

"A lot of the project’s goals are to make businesses want to locate here.” 

The economic aspect of the new garage is one part of the City’s multifaceted strategy for the district. Uccello also pointed out the potential $40 million Fuze multi-use development just around the corner on 12th and Laramie - city-owned lots that administrators rezoned to accommodate development and generate economic activity.  

“That development wouldn’t be possible without everyone having some place to park,” Uccello said. “It’s shifting some land use and making the best use of the space by going vertical with the garage.”