Washington Square residents urge Mount Lebanon to preserve parking access during South Garage redevelopment

Gary Weiss, president of the Washington Square Condominium Unit Owners Association, told the Mount Lebanon Commission on June 9 that planned redevelopment of the South Parking Garage must preserve current access and parking for residents and commercial tenants.

"We are by way of this letter informing each of you of the importance of maintaining the same number of parking spaces provided for Washington Square condominiums," Weiss said while reading a letter to the commission. He asked that the new garage remain directly attached to the Washington Square building, that the electric-vehicle charging stations installed in the south garage remain part of any new plan (and that additional plugs be considered), and that handicap-accessible parking spaces be located near the building's fourth-floor entrance.

Weiss said Washington Square houses 123 residential units with about 200 residents and includes several commercial businesses that employ more than 20 people and generate "considerable traffic" to the Uptown area. He urged the commission, the community planning board, the mobility and transportation board, and the resiliency advisory board to include comprehensive language in any request for proposals to preserve access and permit options for current users before the facility reopens.

Commissioners thanked Weiss and said the municipality is aware of the long-standing relationship between Washington Square and the borough and will take the requests into advisement. Manager McIll and staff were noted to have attended recent resident outreach meetings.

The commission took no formal vote on the redevelopment plan during the meeting; Weiss's remarks were made during the public comment period and will be part of the public record as planning and the RFP process continue.