by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
New offices, a relocated bank, 600 new parking spaces and “John’s Place.”
The renovated Laura Trio — a project taken on by the Police and Fire Pension Fund — will contain all of those things. The only real question is: who is John’s Place named after.
There’s Mayor John Peyton. There’s former Mayor John Delaney. And, then there’s Fund Administrator John Keane.
“Could be either one,” said Keane. “If it’s for the mayor that had the vision to save the buildings, it’s John Delaney. If it’s for the mayor that had the good sense to let us preserve and renovate them, it’s Mayor John Peyton. It could be me.”
Keane said John’s Place will certainly be one thing — a high-quality bistro on the corner of the parking garage.
Boring for pilings begins this week on the parking garage that Keane said will be twice as big as previously planned.
“Originally, it was going to be a 300-car garage. But, I was approached by the local property owners who asked me to double its size,” said Keane, adding the garage will have 600 commitments the day the garage opens. “It’s not a public parking garage. They are all reserved spaces.”
Keane also said a tenant hasn’t been found for the Marble Bank building, but said many have expressed interest.
“Downtown is coming back to life,” he said.