The parking garage planned for property at Fifth and Walnut streets would be 10 stories, stand 110 feet tall and offer nearly 13,000 feet of retail space, according to designs submitted by architects for the project.
Those designs will be the subject of a public hearing before the Columbia City Council at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Daniel Boone City Building; 701 E. Broadway.
“There will be two elevations, with the side on Sixth Street reaching 95 to 100 feet and the side on Fifth Street reaching about 110 feet,” Mike Kurz of Walker Parking Consultants said.
The plans also include 12,814 square feet of retail space on the ground level. That space will be available for lease and, depending on who is interested, could be leased to either one or multiple businesses. Kurz thinks the amount of space lends itself to more than one business.
Chris Davis of Peckham and Wright Architects said the structure's large size and available retail space will give it a different appearance than other parking structures in the city. Still, he said, “the streetscape and retail space will make it softer.”
Kurz said his company will “try to design the structure to look more like a building than a garage,” and that the facade will let it blend in more with its surroundings.
The conceptual drawings will be presented at the Oct. 6 hearing, and the public will be given a chance to voice its opinions. After that, the appropriate changes will be made. The goal is for construction to be done in late 2010, Public Works Department spokeswoman Jill Stedem said.