Loveland has applied for a federal grant that would cover about half the nearly $6.3 million cost of constructing a long-desired parking garage downtown.
The city applied for a $3.1 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration this week.
It has already secured a $900,000 Ohio capital budget grant and a $250,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant to build a 270-space garage between First and Second streets behind city hall at 120 W. Loveland Ave.
“The 270 spaces within the proposed parking facility would increase public parking in the downtown district by 45%,” Loveland City Manager David Kennedy said.
“With the growing number of downtown businesses, along with Loveland being one of the most popular portions of the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail, I feel that the additional parking is needed.”
Loveland has been considering beefing up its parking since at least 2014.
In September 2019, it paid $619,200 for nearly 1.2 acres of land near city hall and related expenses for the planned two-story parking garage site.
The city tore down two houses and a storage garage there in 2020 for the project, which will create a new access point into downtown Loveland via an entrance to the garage from Second Street (Ohio 48).
In October 2019, the city paid $114,794 for just over one-tenth of an acre of land at 124 Railroad Ave. and related expenses to clear the way for primary access to the new parking garage on the First Street side of the project.
Also in 2019, Loveland hired Desman Design Management for engineering, design and construction guidance. The nationwide company is headquartered in New York City and has an office in Cleveland.
Kennedy is unsure when Loveland will learn whether it will receive a grant from the federal Economic Development Administration for the parking garage.
“The city has made every effort to secure outside funding for the project,” he said. “Our city engineer has also submitted for funding to widen Harrison Avenue, which is an important artery into the downtown business district.”
Kennedy said Loveland City Council may discuss using federal coronavirus recovery funds to help build the parking garage.
“I anticipate once they have an answer on the (Economic Development Administration) grant, they will make that decision,” he said.
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