Orange Street garage open for business

Robert Shaffer

GLENDALE -- It may have been the most opening day fanfare a parking

ramp has ever received.

With balloons swaying, Christmas music blaring and cars streaming in,

the Orange Street parking garage opened for business Thursday.

Actually, the $12.3-million garage project with more than 600 spaces

opened quietly around Thanksgiving, and it’s not completely done. The

elevators have yet to take people up or down and a walkway to Brand

Boulevard has yet to be completed.

Both should be finished late next week.

The party, complete with a high school jazz band, included local

merchants who showed up to praise the city’s efforts to bring more

parking to the downtown area.

The huge concrete structure, which took 11 months to build, replaced a

metered city parking lot. The change initially angered some Orange Street

merchants.

But more downtown parking made everyone happy Thursday. Maria Serafin,

the owner of Garden of Beauty Supply on Brand Boulevard, said business

originally dipped when the parking lot closed, but immediately rebounded

with the opening of the garage.

“We suffered for a while, but this is wonderful,” she said.

People have started coming back to Billy’s Deli, said David Fogiel,

manager of the Orange Street eatery. Still, Fogiel is taking a

wait-and-see approach.

“We’ll really know when New Year’s is over,” he said.

Parking in the garage is free but will likely cost sometime soon. The

city’s Transportation & Parking Commission has recommended to the City

Council hourly and monthly fees. The Council will decide rates in

January.

Under the plan, it would cost drivers $1.50 per hour, with a $6

maximum per day, to park. Validation at local business would provide two

hours free, and those who go to the movies would pay $1 for four hours with a stamp. A monthly pass for unlimited parking would cost $45.

Across the street, Frank’s Parking charges $30 a month.

Jeanne Armstrong, the city’s director of redevelopment, said more

parking helps existing businesses and attracts companies to the downtown

area.

“Parking is one of the most important things to do to help your

businesses,” she said.

The parking structure is the third one built by the city.