Latrobe eyes plaza update, fee reduction at parking garage

Officials in Latrobe are hoping for a funding assist so they can update aging, patched infrastructure in a small business plaza tucked away next to the municipal parking garage.

City manager Michael Gray mentioned the need for renovation at the Courtyard Plaza more than a year ago. Now, he’s recommending council prepare for the project by including it in the city’s application for the 2021 community development block grant program.

The program, administered locally by Westmoreland County, provides grants for projects that will benefit low- or moderate-income residents.

The plaza project would include reconstruction of steps and an access ramp off Spring Street, to make it compliant with accessibility guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“It’s been on the back burner for a long period of time,” Gray said of the project.

Council at its Aug. 10 meeting is expected to authorize city consultant Gibson-Thomas Engineering to prepare the application for the block grant.

At the adjacent garage, Gray suggested council offer a price break for use of parking spots on the top level — another idea that has been kicked around for some time. Gray proposed reducing the monthly fee for a parking permit there from $26 to $15.

He noted city officials have been “trying to look at different ways of getting people to park on the top level of the garage. It is sparsely used.”

He said a possible fee cut was brought to mind once more by a new business in town that was looking for a couple of parking spaces at a reduced rate.

“I wouldn’t mind lowering it to $15 just to get additional people to park up there,” Gray said.

Council member Christine Weller said the rate reduction might be welcomed by other businesses looking to hold down expenses during a time of financial stress.