ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — An Ithaca parking garage is staying closed.
According to an update from Ithaca city officials, the Seneca St. parking garage “will remain closed while long term planning for the site continues. The sidewalks immediately surrounding the garage will remain closed until a scaffolding solution can be put into place to protect pedestrians from any debris resulting from the building facade cracking.”
The garage has been closed since Apr. 10, after reports of falling concrete debris from the 3rd floor to the sidewalk.
“The City conducts annual safety inspections as a regular practice to address any structural safety concerns and in anticipation of the garage’s age and future redevelopment. This exceeds the three-year inspection interval required by Title 19 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR), Part 1203. As a result of the regular inspections, the City has completed all necessary structural maintenance over time to repair unsafe conditions,” officials stated.
After the closure was announced, the city says they commissioned an “immediate structural engineering review of the garage, which has been open since 1973.
“In the interim, the City will take additional safety measures. Portions of the garage façade will be partially remediated, and protective walkway scaffolding will be installed. These actions will allow adjacent sidewalks to reopen while ensuring pedestrian safety. This work will also enable TCAT to resume normal operations at its former location outside the garage,” the statement continued.
