Parking Deck Needs $450K In Repairs: Report

PLYMOUTH, MI — More than $450,000 worth of repairs for the city of Plymouth’s central parking deck is being recommended. Leaking joints, deck coating and stair repairs are among the fixes needed at the deck, which sits off of Harvey Street between Ann Arbor Trail and Penniman Avenue. Major repairs haven’t been made at the deck since 2009, according to Plymouth Downtown Development Authority documents.

Kalamazoo-based Carl Walker Restoration and Preservation Solutions recently completed a report detailing the needed fixes. Approximately $237,000 was spent on major repairs in 2009. Carl Walker estimated needed repairs at $453,780 for the central parking deck.

In its recommendation to the board, DDA administrative staff said the deck should “have a complete renovation every four to five years to maintain the integrity of the structure.” Maintenance costs have increased the last few years, staff added: “we have spent tens of thousands of dollars on fixes to the deck. However, staff believes it’s time to take the findings of the Carl Walker study and move toward a complete renovation of the deck to maintain safety of the structure and long-term usefulness of the deck.”

Funding for the project will come from the DDA’s operating fund balance. The deck was built in 1983 and repairs were completed in 1991, 1999, 2002, and 2009. It appears that most of the repairs are performing well and the garage is in fair to good condition, Carl Walker wrote in its recent evaluation of the deck.

Here’s a list of recommended repairs by the company:

• Sealant Repair – Most of the tee-to-tee joint sealants at Level 2 are leaking. Some of the sealants may be covered by the warranty from the 2012 project.
• Deck Coating Recoating – The deck coating installed in 2009 is heavily worn at the turning areas, needing a full system reinstallation. The deck coating in the drive lanes is showing wear as well and needs to be recoated.
• Stair Repairs – The east stair is showing rust on the steel elements and needs to be cleaned and painted.
• Miscellaneous – Striping, replacing wheelstops, and miscellaneous metal cleaning repairs.

Optional Items

• Lighting System Replacement – Upgrading existing lighting system with a more efficient LED system.
• Remove & Replace Asphalt at Level 1 – The asphalt surface at Level 1 is showing signs of deterioration which will require continued patching to prevent potential trip hazards. Complete replacement of the asphalt surface should be anticipated within the next 20 years.

Photo courtesy of the city of Plymouth Downtown Development Authority