Two new garage facades presented

The architect of the Palm Avenue parking garage unveiled two new possible designs at a public workshop Jan. 28 — one is more traditional, the other more contemporary.

The city commissioned an original design last spring that was used to solicit bids from contractors.

After Suffolk Construction was awarded the project, city commissioners asked Suffolk’s architecture firm partner, Jonathan Parks Architect, to come up with two alternative designs.

Both of the new designs differ from the first in that they have vertical windows. The traditional design has more color and the retail storefronts on the first floor have different appearances. It looks similar to the Citrus Square development on Orange Avenue, which Jonathan Parks Architect also designed.

The contemporary version of the garage is one solid color and the storefronts are all of one design.

Many of the residents who viewed the different options didn’t like any of them and asked the designer to go back to the drawing board.

The city will hold a final public workshop at 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4 at City Hall. Jonathan Parks Architect will refine the designs and maybe even come up with a fourth option based on citizen input.

Construction is scheduled to begin April 1 and be complete in December.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].