AUBURN – Talk about where to build a new Great Falls Plaza parking garage Monday almost turned into a referendum on whether it’s even the right thing to do.
A proposed land swap with developer Tom Platz advanced, despite some City Council misgivings and opposition from two councilors.
Monday’s vote clears the way for City Manager Pat Finnigan to work out a deal with Platz to swap about 61,000 square feet of city land west of the Auburn Esplanade for 31,000 square feet of Platz land at the corner of Great Falls Plaza and Turner Street.
“I think we have gotten a little off-track here,” said City Councilor Eric Samson. “We’re discussing where to put the garage, and we’ve heard that whatever the city manager comes up with will come back to the City Council. I feel confident about that.”
Platz plans to build at least one office building in the plaza. The original site plan called for putting Platz’s new office building on the corner of Great Falls Plaza and Turner Street, and the city’s parking garage behind the Esplanade. Councilors voted a year ago to approve $5 million in debt to build the garage.
Bangor Savings Bank has already committed to take the first 5,000 square feet of the office building, moving in 50 employees as soon as it opens.
Swapping parcels would put the city’s garage and a new bus station closer to the corner and nearer other downtown businesses.
City Councilors Belinda Gerry and Donna Lyons Rowell both voted against it, however.
“Why should we help a private developer?” Rowell said. “If he wants a garage, he should just build it. He’s the one with all the money. Why should the taxpayers continue to line his pockets?”
Councilor Bethel Shields defended the garage as an investment the city needs to make to continue downtown development.
“When I think about a parking garage, I don’t think we build it for one person or one business,” Shields said. “We build it for people, for the citizens of Auburn, and that attracts the business.”
Councilors voted 4-2 to let Finnigan work out a deal with Platz. Councilor Kelly Matzen abstained from voting.
Councilor Bob Mennealy voted to approve, saying he needed some more questions answered before he’d support the final trade. Mennealy requested a legal review of the original $5 million bond for the garage as well as a full appraisal on the property.
“We owe it to ourselves to make sure we’re getting the best deal we can,” Mennealy said.
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