Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/256534
versus precast concrete, and inefficient space on the designated site for a parking garage because the parcel is so narrow. Add to that the fact that the City Commission dithered for months between a variety of designs, reminiscent of previous dithering over the installation and removal of parking meters downtown. The commission's final decisions necessitated an extra story of park- ing to meet the space goals, adding another significant cost. The original cost estimate was not pulled from the air. It was based on a $16,000 per- space expense at the Palm Avenue parking garage. "We used that figure for the 300 to 500 spaces for State Street," said Stancel. "This was a national median between $14,000 and $16,000 per space. So we used $18,000 per space [for the estimate]." An artist's rendering shows how the new State Street parking garage would appear. Image courtesy City of Sarasota City staff has pointed to the cost differences between the Palm Avenue garage project and the plans for the new State Street garage. Image City of Sarasota Sarasota News Leader February 7, 2014 Page 42