The debate over retail space on the ground floor of the Pelissier St. parking garage isn't over yet.
Tender results to renovate the space back into parking came back $400,000 over the original estimates of $507,000.
"I was surprised to see that it was so far out of whack. I had assumed that there was some kind of due diligence done, or some kind walk through done with engineering," says Ward 3 Councillor Rino Bortolin.
He says the conversion no longer makes financial sense.
"Dollars and cents, this would be one of the worst decisions this council has made if we're going to spend almost a million dollars to create 43 parking spaces. 43 parking spaces in a lot that is never full, in an area that does not need parking," says Bortolin.
The tender results should come back to council in a report on the August 8 meeting. Bortolin is hoping to have another fulsome debate about the move at that time.
In the meantime, the space is empty as the two remaining tenants, Windsor Pride and a hair salon, had until June 30 to vacate the premises.
