Good news for some Sky View residents: They get to keep their view. The Parking Authority passed on the idea of adding two levels to the existing parking deck at Lewis and Main streets.
Executive Director Donald Andersen said commissioners had concerns about the cost effectiveness and shutting down a large portion of the garage during construction, as well as possibly Main and Lewis streets. Construction probably would have last four to five months in either case and two levels of the garage would be closed.
Adding one level would have cost $2.6 million and created another 85 spaces ($31,000 per) while two levels would have cost $4.8 million and added 170 spaces ($29,000 per). The existing six-story parking deck, which opened four years ago with 524 spaces, cost $11 million (which works out to about $21,000/space).
Commissioners discussed the “Vertical Expansion Feasibility Draft Report,” prepared by Tim Haahs & Associates of Blue Bell, Pa., at their November meeting.
Andersen said the parking study commissioned last summer will hopefully be completed by the end of March.
I was ambivalent about the project to add two new levels to the parking deck, but on balance it’s nice to hear that nobody will be losing their view. Skyview has enough trouble as it is.And in a way, I see it as a victory for common sense. How long ago was this parking deck built anyway? Are we really that shortsighted that we built a “new” parking garage and then, within a few years, we need to start up construction all over again to add a couple more levels on that should have been there in the first place?
Good news. I passed by at least 4 homes for sale on Jacques Ave (how DO you pronounce that street anyway?) and 3 of the 4 are Under Contract which is really terrific. Hopefully those homes close and the Rahway inventory shrinks. Seriously, no sarcasm here, its a great thing.
I’ve heard it’s pronounced “Jakes”.
Realist, the street name is spelled “Jaques” and it is pronounced “Jakes.” It is named after a 19th century landowner in the area.
Thanks for the responses! First I thought it was pronounced like the French name Jaques (rhymes with clock) and then I thought it was “Jake” but with the “s” dropped but now I am in the know. Jakes in the plural form. thanks all!