Greensburg officials eye options to demolish parking garage used by Excela

Greensburg leaders are looking for money to demolish the J. Edward Hutchinson Parking Garage, which closed last year because of high costs of maintenance and repair.

The city is working with local lawmakers to discuss what funding might be available to help tear down the garage “so it’s not an eyesore,” Mayor Robert Bell said. The garage is attached to Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital by an enclosed walkway over Shearer Street.

The garage opened in October 1979 to ease parking problems at the hospital. City officials, however, decided to close the facility Dec. 1 in concert with Excela after an engineering study revealed needed maintenance would cost more than $2 million to extend its lifespan by three to five years.

Since that decision was made, Excela has leaned on plans to address the loss of the 475 garage spots.

“Impact on patients and visitors is negligible, given what has been historically a very limited use of the garage for their parking needs,” spokesman Tom Chakurda said. “Excela maintains significant free parking for outpatients and visitors at a number of locations on its Westmoreland campus.”

Those who held a garage lease can work with the city to secure a different space near the garage.

In addition, Greensburg officials have worked to offset a loss of revenue previously received from parking fees from the garage, which was split between the city and hospital. City officials voted to terminate that agreement with Excela last week. Chakurda directed questions regarding the agreement to Greensburg.

In all, Greensburg received $139,000 in parking garage revenue before the covid-19 pandemic. That money was used to buy police vehicles and firetrucks.

Money for those purchases now will come from an almost $1.1 million loan finalized by city officials in February. Approval of the loan led to an additional 1-mill tax charge, which will cost between $20 and $25 per homeowner. Revenue from that tax hike, which is expected to total $125,000, will be used to pay off the loan.

Further discussions regarding the garage will take place once more details are available on demolition options.

“It is a priority to try to get that thing down,” Bell said.