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Danville ready to proceed with parking garage

June 30, 2006|KELLY McKINNEY

At least five years and several challenges after first planning it, Danville is ready to build a downtown parking garage. City manager Darrell Blenniss expects construction to begin in 30 to 60 days.

"We're just plowing ahead as planned," Blenniss said. "We always thought we'd be successful."

The city has received approval from the Federal Transit Authority and won a lawsuit giving it a clear title to the property.

The FTA assessed the environmental and historical impact of the garage, as well as how the city plans to use the $1.7 million federal grant it was awarded, but not actually given, in August 2004.

In March, the city completed the 12 pages of revisions the authority required, which mostly dealt with ensuring the federal money will be used exclusively for the bus station to house the Bluegrass Ultra-Service operated by Blue Grass Community Action Agency that will be incorporated in the garage. The FTA approved the funds and gave the city its funding number June 7.

Julie Wagner, executive director of Heart of Danville, said the approval means the grant is secure; no one else can get it.

"The process (of getting the money) is more or less complete," Blenniss said. With the money in the bank (almost), the city had another issue.

Affidavit filed in April

In April, the city filed an affidavit asking Boyle Circuit Court to give it full rights to a tract of the land the garage will be built on. Records showed the tract, which is .006 of an acre or less, was still deeded to Harry and Hyman D. Pushin. Though the surrounding property was conveyed several times, eventually to the city, the small parcel was not.

The court appointed attorney Justin T. Genco to find and represent any possible heirs of the Pushins, who are believed to be dead. Genco advertised in The Advocate-Messenger asking anyone with a possible claim in the property to come forward. One person expressed an interest but soon abandoned it.

On June 22, Circuit Judge Darren Peckler awarded the city full rights to the property.

Now the city is wrapping up a few "minor details," Wagner said. It must secure leases and get a notice to proceed from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. She said the cabinet mainly wants to know the garage will be used by the public.

Blennis said he is planning a building schedule and coordinating it with the construction crew renovating the old Gilcher Hotel. Blenniss said the project will be open for bids soon.

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