Andrew Munoz, Assistant Director of Brownsville Metro called this morning to discuss my concerns about the delay in completing the downtown parking garage. Mr. Munoz was absent due to illness from last night's meeting of the Transit Advisory Board held at 5:30 PM on the second floor of the multi-modal facility. On the agenda for last night's meeting, listed as point # 2 was: "Update on Multimodal Project-Parking Garage(Andrew Munoz). Due to Mr. Munoz' absence, that item was tabled.
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| Multi-modal Bus Station Viewed from Parking Garage Location |
The garage is limited to 3-1/2 stories(actually 4 levels with the top level being uncovered)by Heritage Foundation requirements that it not overwhelm local architecture. The height would be approximately level with the multi-modal exclusive of the dome. Funding also plays a role in the number of levels. Mr. Munoz estimated another level would add $800,000 to the overall cost.
Munoz explained that the city's purchase of speculative real estate did not affect the garage project's funding as those come through the Brownsville Economic Development Council, which initially approved the original $4,100,000. Now, Munoz states, the original agreement is in the process of being reworked to reflect the actual current cost to complete the project, $5,100,000. The paperwork for that adjustment was initiated 45 days ago, a time frame Munoz described as "short" in these situations.
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| Project Sign with Original Completion Date |
As to the $390,000 needed for American Disabilities Act compliance with respect to the surrounding sidewalks and the garage itself, Munoz confirmed that the change order will be funded separately under a New Freedom grant. The parking garage will be linked with the bike trail, with a bike rack out front not taking away from garage space for motor vehicles.
Jim, thanks for the initial writeup and the follow up on this project. Thanks also to Mr. Munoz for his forthcoming explanation. Nevertheless, it is beyond explanation why it takes a blogger to inform the general public regarding these type of large taxpayer expenditures. I was aware that the the BEDC was the initial funder for this project but like everything else in this city this projects run out of control and the BEDC does so many shenenigans behind closed doors that it does not surprise me they spent over a million more dollars on this with no questions asked. There is no point in attending their public open door meeting for just about every meeting has another meeting behind closed doors on the same day. I recommend you attend one of their meetings and you will surely be surprised. It is our taxpayer money that they turn over by the thousands at a time with a simple "yey" vote. Forget United Brownsville, I would check the BEDC culprits out before any of the other unaccountable entities in Brownsville that are stealing the public blind.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my arithmatic, the cost per parking space is around $27,000, 5.1 million divided by 190. I went to Sharp Elementary, so you might to want to double check the numbers. Puta, you can buy a house in Brownsville for that! Pero, nadie, nadie, puede chingar al public como los cocos de Brownsville.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jim for the updated report. There is no private meeting held by this board before the public meeting, just to be clear.
ReplyDeleteTeresa Saldivar
Transit Advisory Board Member