Sep 6, 2024 By Paul Paterra 3 min read

Washington Parking Authority voted to have an independent appraisal of the Crossroads Parking Garage, which the county wishes to purchase.

In a motion approved by each of the four board members in attendance Wednesday, the authority has appointed Integra Realty Resources of Pittsburgh at a price of $5,001 to handle the appraisal to determine a market value for the garage. The cost would be split between the city, Washington School District and the parking authority.

A letter was to be drafted and sent to the county informing officials of the decision.

In August, the authority turned down a $4 million offer from the county to buy the garage. City council initially approved the sale of the garage to the county in June.

The county wants to purchase the garage for parking for its employees, who now park at the Courthouse Square garage, which is targeted for demolition to make way for construction of a new public safety complex.

The garage is owned and operated by the parking authority, but money from a sale would be distributed to the city, the Washington School District and the county, due to a tax-increment financing plan used to build the garage in 2007. The city, which owns 50% of the garage, and the school district, 43%, would receive the bulk of the revenue. The county owns the remainder.

“The bottom line is we all agree we’re interested in selling the garage, I think the city is interested in selling it (and) the school district never really wanted to be an owner of a parking garage,” said Joe Thomas, parking authority executive director. “I think we should hire (the appraiser) to do an independent appraisal and get back to the county.”

Daryl Price, the county’s designee to the parking authority, was not in attendance Wednesday.

“I think everybody’s in agreement that we’re interested in selling the garage, just not at $4 million,” said Rick Mancini, parking authority board chair. “That’s not an acceptable price.”

Mancini said the appraiser told him it would take about 30 days to complete the appraisal.

“Obviously, the higher the value the better for all of us,” Mancini said. “If we’re going to accept an offer we have to have an idea what fair market value is.”

The garage opened in May 2007 and cost an estimated $14.1 million to build. Since then, the garage has been losing money.

City Administrator Donn Henderson said earlier this year that the city has spent about $800,000 over the last 17 years to offset revenue shortages from the annual bond payments.

More than half of the 780 spaces are under monthly leases.

“We’re essentially trying to get more money, which is beneficial to the school district, which is beneficial to the county and beneficial to the city,” said Troy Breese, parking authority board member. “We’re doing our due diligence. We’re just trying to figure out what it’s worth.”