O’Donnell Park garage to be repaired, scheduled to reopen in July

The O'Donnell Park parking garage in Milwaukee — where a facade collapsed June 24 killing a teenager — remains closed. Milwaukee County has decided to repair the structure. It is scheduled to reopen in July 2011. (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

Milwaukee County has decided it will repair and reopen the O’Donnell Park parking garage by July.

• Request for Proposals for Professional Consulting Services to Assure Contract Compliance and Provide Quality Assurance for the O’Donnell Park Parking Structure Improvements, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County • Request for Proposals for Professional Consulting Services to Complete Planning and Design for Repairs to the O’Donnell Park Parking Structure, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County

According to reports, the $6.6 million project would include removal of all the structure’s decorative exterior concrete panels. One of the 13-ton panels fell off the structure’s east side on June 24, killing a 15-year-old boy and seriously injured two others.

Two million dollars in additional repairs will also be made to the interior of the O’Donnell structure, including resealing the entire deck, patching numerous cracks and fixing broken storm drains, according to reports.

Previous reports have indicated the county considering selling the parking garage. Analysis by the county suggested the property was worth $26 million, and a sale could possibly net more than $15 million. The county has also considered razing the structure.

Milwaukee County Executive and Gov.-elect Scott Walker has said the county is losing more than $100,000 a month in parking revenue while the ramp is closed.

Legal fight about to take flight

On Thursday, the Milwaukee County Judiciary, Safety and General Services committee will consider hiring legal representation in case lawsuits are filed stemming from the June 24 partial facade collapse.

An independent inspection released in September suggested nearly every O’Donnell Park parking garage facade panel was installed incorrectly, which after two decades may have caused the panel to give way.

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