County demolishing parking deck
<p>Bonner County commissioners agreed Tuesday to demolish a sagging wood-and-concrete parking structure connected to a bank building purchased by the county in the last few years at First and Pine. (Photo by KEITH KINNAIRD)</p>
SANDPOINT — Bonner County is accelerating the demise of a failing parking deck overlooking Sand Creek.
County commissioners agreed Tuesday to demolish the sagging wood-and-concrete structure before it has a chance to collapse.
“We have a serious hazard that needs to be rectified,” said Commissioner Mike Nielsen, adding that he’s received complaints that the deck has been creaking and groaning.
County officials have been warily eying the deteriorating structure for years and parking on the deck has been prohibited for some time.
The parking deck is connected to a bank building at First Avenue and Pine Street that the county purchased. It has been used to house the county’s Department of Motor Vehicles and currently serves as a temporary county clerk’s office.
The building is slated to become the Public Defender’s Office once the courthouse remodel is finally complete.
The deck is 131 feet long and 37 wide. It’s topped with an 8-inch concrete slab with wooden beam subfloor.
“The sawbucks — 2-by-8s and 2-by-10s that are bolted in a cross-x fashion — are buckling like they were a popsicle stick,” said Nielsen.
Bedding found beneath the deck indicates is actively used as refuge by transients, which creates a liability for the county.
“If we have a homeless guy under there, this thing could fall and crush ‘em,” Nielsen said.
Bolstering the deck is estimated to cost between nearly $130,000 to $160,000, while replacement could cost upwards of $400,000, according to county officials.
There is no funding identified in the current budget for rehabilitating or replacing the deck.
Commission Chairman Cary Kelly agreed the deck needs addressing, but urged caution to avoid cost overruns and other curve balls that can lurk behind remodeling or replacement projects.
“I’d just like to go in with our eyes open,” said Kelly.
Removal of the deck is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $37,000, according to Nielsen.
Although the deck has limited the amount of parking at the building, it falls within the city of Sandpoint’s modified downtown parking area. That means it does not technically require any parking, according to Jeremy Grimm, the city’s planning director.
Under city code, buildings within the boundaries of First Avenue, Cedar Street, Fifth Avenue and Pine Street are exempt from city parking requirements.