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City updates businesses on Cedar‑Lee fire and closed garage; boarding option and valet suggested to ease impacts
Summary
Assistant Director Brian Anderson briefed council on an ongoing state fire marshal investigation into the Cedar‑Lee fire, said the garage remains closed for safety and staff have a bid to board openings to reopen sooner; business owners urged expedited action and suggested temporary barriers or valet funding to restore parking capacity.
City staff told council Feb. 18 that an investigation into a fire affecting a building near the Cedar‑Lee district remains active, the adjacent parking garage remains closed as a safety precaution, and the city is exploring temporary boarding of affected openings to allow earlier reopening.
Brian Anderson, assistant director for economic development, said the state fire marshal is leading the investigation and that "the investigation is still ongoing." He said the city’s immediate concern is not structural collapse of the garage itself but the possibility that debris could fall from the adjacent fire‑damaged building and strike vehicles or people in the garage. Anderson said the administration has obtained an initial bid to board the north side openings of the garage, which could shield the parking area and allow it to reopen sooner once a contract is executed and crews mobilized.
Anderson and the mayor said the city has been communicating with area businesses since late January and has used the business district SID meeting, weekly newsletters and social media to share updates. He also said the long‑range steps include stabilizing the site, demolishing unsafe structures and then moving toward reconstruction.
Business owners and residents in the public comment period described immediate economic harm from the garage closure. The owner of Rudy's Pub said lost parking is “killing us over there as business” and asked the city for clear timelines. Other commenters suggested temporary measures: a speaker proposed using police crowd‑control barriers to block portions of the street to create accessible spaces while boarding work proceeds; Melody Joyhardt suggested the city could fund temporary valet service or grant funds to the SID to offset business losses.
Council members and staff encouraged business owners to use a single point of contact in the city — Assistant Director Anderson — for consistent information. The mayor and staff reiterated that the state fire marshal is the lead investigative body and that the city will continue to coordinate mitigation and support for impacted businesses.
Why it matters: The Cedar‑Lee district is a commercial hub; prolonged garage closure reduces parking capacity for businesses and customers, creating short‑term economic impacts for small merchants and the district’s vitality. Board‑up, temporary traffic controls or funded valet service are potential short‑term mitigations.
What’s next: The city will evaluate bids to board openings, mobilize work if appropriate, and continue coordinating with the state fire marshal; staff encouraged affected businesses to reach out to Anderson for centralized updates and assistance.
