Parking Deck Expected to Re-Open Next Week

Repairs to the parking deck in the center of downtown Caldwell are on schedule and expected to be completed next week, said Borough Administrator Paul Carelli at Tuesday's council meeting.

Once the work is finished, the deck can re-open and visitors to the Caldwell Community Center, Borough Hall, the Caldwell Public Library, downtown businesses, as well as residents with permits, will get their parking spaces back.

After the meeting, Carelli said that potential plans to provide valet parking to members of the Caldwell Community Center, which were , did not pan out.

"My bid threshold was $3,900," he said. "It was just too expensive."

The Lincoln Park-based company Infrastructure Repair Service has been working to replace a 27-foot section of concrete on the upper level of the deck since early December. Electrical wiring and bolts on the deck are also being replaced. The work was deemed necessary after an inspection earlier this year.

All but 43 spots of the deck, , have been closed to parking since the findings were reported in late October.

The Council on Tuesday introduced a bond ordinance in the amount of $328,000 to pay for the repairs.

Councilman Joseph Norton said he plans to continue to investigate whether any of the money for the repairs could be recuperated either through insurance or from the company that built the structure a decade ago.

Core samples of the original concrete are being tested for salt contents, strength and other factors. Results of the analysis are expected back by the end of this week, Carelli said.