Kabat was initially surprised at parking ramp design costs

Riverside ramp expansion plans could cost $600,000

Mayor Tim Kabat says he had “sticker shock” when hearing the price quote, of $600,000 to design new levels to an existing La Crosse parking ramp.

He doubts, however, the design phase will actually cost that much.

“The $600,000 is really more of a rule of thumb that engineers and others use to say that, when you’re designing something, your design costs are typically going to be 10 percent,” Kabat said.

That 10 percent, of course, comes from the $6 million price tag on adding two extra levels to the Riverside Ramp.

Kabat wants city leaders to study the project cost, but he defends the idea of enlarging the ramp to meet demand. Kabat said the city needs to replace surface parking spaces that have been lost because of construction on Lot C, and the new hotel being built on the former Hooters lot.