New Parking Deck's First Stage Approved

Easton's Historic District Commission has approved the first phase of the city's new parking deck on S. Third Street.

The commission voted Monday night to allow the city to install the pre-cast concrete skeleton of the deck, something that should happen this July.

The vote came just hours after Mayor Sal Panto announced his wish to move city government operations to the planned intermodal building, which will be connected to the new parking deck. 

Panto told commission members the concrete needs to be poured in April in time for it to cure and be ready for transport in the summer. 

"So we're on a pretty tight schedule," he said.

The approval was based on the condition that the city would come back to the commission with details about the building. 

Commission member Gary Ringoff wanted more information in light of what the commission had already learned about the project.

“This whole structure was a beautiful piece of art," he said. And at this point, I’m looking at this and saying ‘this is a freaking parking garage.’"