Date: January 14, 2013
by: Roger Drouin | City Editor

The site of the planned garage is now home to a 139-parking space lot.

Sarasota city officials have chosen an engineering/construction firm for the State Street parking garage project slated for a 2015 completion.

Over the next few weeks, city officials and Bradenton-based A.D Morgan will negotiate a contract for the $7.29-million project.

A.D. Morgan was tapped last month out of a list of eight firms vying to build the project.

In addition to providing parking one block from mid-Main Street, the project could also add retail space or residential units. Other possible options discussed include: a top-deck pavilion roof with solar panels and a public park, and an open air-type farmers market on the first floor of the structure.

Once a contract is signed, A.D. Morgan planners will hold several public workshops to elicit input and began drafting plans for the garage.

“All ideas will be looked at and vetted,” said City Planner Steve Stancel.

The city has set aside $7.29 million in tax-increment financing for the project.

Currently 2 Responses

1.
If you are going to spend the tax payer's money that isn't there at least give the work to a local firm who will hire local workers and put dollars into the local economy. AD Morgan is a Tampa company who set up a storefront office in Bradenton to make themselves appear like a Sarasota/Manatee contractor. What a sham and what a shame to the hard working (or not) construction industry tax payers of Sarasota.
JR Smythe
Mon 14th Jan 2013
at 4:30pm

2.
City claims to be broke...yet many millions for Round-a-Bouts....$ 600,000 for parking meters....$ 12m for palm ave parking garage and many other spending sprees...now this!!! ....The city has set aside $7.29 million in tax-increment financing for the project...a parking garage on State Street....They must have a printing press...thay make Obama look like a miser.

Wake up voters...
BJ SULLIVAN
Mon 14th Jan 2013
at 2:07pm