AUBURN – Work on a new Great Falls Plaza office building will begin in the spring – with a new parking garage fast on its heels.

“Hopefully, we’ll get going as early in the spring as possible, as soon as the weather permits,” said Stephan Myers, development coordinator for Platz Associates.

The project has been in the works since 2004. Platz Associates hopes to build a series of office buildings in the plaza, starting with a three-story, 40,500-square-foot office building, that would go up north and west of the plaza, along Turner Street.

A $5 million, four-level garage with about 80 spaces per level will be next.

“Once we break ground, once we start moving in supplies and materials for the first building, we should have room to start the garage,” Myers said. Plans call for building a separate bus depot near the garage but not attached to it.

“We’re still having discussion about that,” he said.

Myers said he is confident the garage can be built within the city’s budget.

According to city estimates, the garage is expected to cost $5 million in construction costs. That’s being paid for with city bonds, approved by the City Council in March 2004.

“We have not priced it out completely yet, but we believe we can deliver 300 spaces for the $5 million,” Myers said.