County Will Take Over Parking Garages

Baltimore County will likely take over two Towson parking garages when the bonds financing the two structures are paid off by Baltimore County Revenue Authority.

"Over the years it's become clear that the government needed to be in control of these garages it pays fees on," said Fred Homan, adding "we end up being responsible for most of what goes on" at the garage.

The take over of the two garages, which could come in 2019, is part of a consolidated lease agreement between the county and the Baltimore County Revenue Authority. The County Council is being asked to approve the lease at its Monday voting session.

The authority currently operates and manages four garages in Towson and is building a fifth that will be part of the proposed Towson Circle III development.

The bonds financing the garages at Baltimore and Washington Avenues would be paid off in a little more than seven years.

The transfer would mean that the county would take over the authority's two most profitable garages. Two other garages—the Tolbert facility on Washington Avenue and York Road and the garage that serves the library and District Court facilities—are less profitable because they are used less.

"We're satisfied we're not going to be harmed," said authority Chief Executive William "Lynnie" Cook in .

The county could end up needing to replace the garage at the corner of Washington and Susquehanna Avenues almost immediately after taking it over.

The garage is the oldest of the four built in Towson.

"It's nearing the end of it's useful life," said Homan, adding that the garage would likely need to consider replacing the garage in seven to 10 years.