Warren's mayor hopes that the new 658-space parking garage on Clark St. does not cure all of the city's downtown parking problems.

"You always want to have a parking problem," Mayor Mark Phillips said after a Tuesday morning groundbreaking ceremony for the new $5.5 million parking facility.

Parking problems, said Phillips, are a sign of vitality and he hopes that Warren's business district will always have parking problems to some extent.

But the new parking garage, which should be completed a year from now, will undoubtedly ease the downtown's parking problem, said Phillips.

"Parking for years has been a topic of discussion in Warren," said Phillips. "We're making great strides to address that but you always want to have a parking problem."

The mayor said there are no plans to eliminate on-street parking downtown once the new parking garage opens.

The parking garage, he expects, will be used primarily by permit holders, users of the riverfront motel and conference center on Clark St., downtown residents and larger downtown businesses.

Permits to park in the new garage are expected to cost about $35 per month.

On-street spots will remain important to motorists who only plan quick stops at downtown businesses and offices, said Phillips. "Hopefully they will be easier to find," said Warren City Council member David See.

Phillips said city officials "will continue to try to educate downtown employers and employees about the importance of making the on-street spots available" to downtown visitors as opposed to workers who tie-up the parking spots for the entire day.

Some downtown workers continue to "play games" with meter attendants by periodically moving from one on-street space to another to avoid being ticketed, said Phillips.

Aside from replacing parking spaces lost to new construction in the Island Parking Lot, the parking garage is a key componnent of "Impact Warren" because the revenues will help support another element of the $50 million downtown rejuvenation project.

"The parking garage will be a major revenue generator for the conference center," said See. "Other than addressing the need for parking, the revenues will be important."

See credited Governor Ed Rendell with recognizing the importance of the parking garage to the overall downtown and riverfront project and providing the funding needed.

"The governor recognized the parking garage would help the conference center and sees that as having a major impact on the downtown," said See.

The 658-space garage will cover almost one-acre, stretching from Liberty St. to within a few feet of the rear of the Times Observer building.

From the first level to the top deck, the garage will stand 46 feet high, not including the 50 foot high brick and glass tower on the Clark St. side of the garage. The garage will be equipped with an elevator.

The main entrance and exit for motorists will both be located on Clark St., although Clark St. will be realigned so that it is north of its present location.

The ramp will have five levels, one at street level and four upper levels and the design will allow drivers to "short circuit" and reach the main exit from any level.