Northampton told to demolish EJ Gare Parking Garage
Engineers say the 37-year-old structure cannot be economically repaired and recommend either a surface lot or a new garage at a cost of up to $33 million.
NORTHAMPTON — The city has been advised to demolish the EJ Gare Parking Garage after architects determined the 37-year-old structure is suffering from "concrete cancer," a severe form of deterioration that cannot be repaired.
Hoffman Architects and Engineers found that water infiltration has corroded the reinforcing steel and caused significant concrete spalling throughout the garage. The firm has recommended two paths forward: demolish and replace it with a surface parking lot, or demolish and build a new garage entirely. The decision will affect downtown parking capacity and require City Council approval on financing.
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra explained the engineers' findings to the City Council on October 15. The garage suffers from alkali-silica reactivity, a chemical reaction between certain concrete aggregates, alkali in the cement, and moisture that expands over time and cracks the concrete from within. "There's really no way to cure it," said Rob Marsoli, director of engineering at Hoffman Architects.
A surface parking lot would cost between $3.3 and $3.8 million and would combine with the Armory Street lot to provide 198 total parking spaces, roughly 200 fewer than the garage at full capacity. A new garage would cost between $18 and $33 million and could be funded through a debt exclusion vote that might increase property taxes or through a request for proposals requiring private development of the site.
Repairs are not feasible, according to Central Services Director Angie Gregory. Even if the garage could be repaired, the interior deterioration would continue, and the structure would still require ongoing monitoring. Hoffman Architects does not recommend pursuing that option.
The upper levels of the garage have been closed since March. Shoring and structural supports have been installed on the lower levels at a cost of $9,000 per month, and the city says that is a temporary measure only. The skywalk connecting the garage to Thornes Marketplace remains open.
The city will update its parking study before deciding whether to build a new garage or surface lot and will return to the City Council with a project budget and financing recommendations. Hoffman Architects will monitor the structure monthly through the winter. Sciarra said the city is also negotiating with three private parking lots to add temporary and permanent spaces and exploring shuttle service options to lots outside downtown. "If it's not safe, it's going to get closed," Sciarra said of the remaining open levels.