Repairs under way to Evanston’s Sherman Avenue parking garage

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Updated: January 30, 2012 9:51AM

The city is moving forward with repairs to the top deck of the city owned Sherman Plaza Self Park garage on the 1600 block of Sherman Avenue and taking steps to protect against any more tiles falling from the building, officials said.

During a Transportation and Parking Committee meeting, staff reported they are scheduled this week to discuss design of new light fixtures to replace the ones that crashed to the deck in October, following a storm with high winds hit the area.

The city “had nice success going” before the incident, with some parkers taking advantage of the reduced rooftop parking fee officials were offering in an effort to spur usage, noted Assistant City Manager Marty Lyons.

At the current timetable, repairs to the area probably won’t be done until late spring or early summer.

Lyons also told the committee Wednesday that officials also were moving forward on an emergency purchase for coverings around the garage on the Benson Avenue side, and a partial barricade in the alley, to protect against falling tiles.

The falling concrete was discovered during a walk around the garage after the light fixture collapse.

“Some pieces of concrete have fallen down to the ground and the adjacent roof top,” according to a city staff memo issued after the incident.

A potential hazard

Although the pieces that fell have not resulted in any reported injuries or additional damage, the concrete façade panels are situated at the deck’s perimeter and up to 12 stories off the ground, according to the memo.

Officials said the situation creates “the potential for serious injuries and damage should another failure occur in these locations,” the memo states.

As soon as the installations are in place, city officials plan to reach out to the business community and explain the reason for the cautionary measures, Lyons said.

At a minimum, the coverings might have to remain in place up to two or three months, he told committee members.

Lyons also told the committee officials are continuing to investigate the causes of the falling light fixtures and tiles. Officials had been in the midst of a successful renovation to the 1,583-space garage when the problems occurred.

The garage, constructed just five years ago at 821 Davis St., is one of the city’s largest assets along with two other city garages: Maple Avenue Self Park at 1800 Maple Ave. and Church Street Self Park at 525 Church St.