Gastonia Times

A 90- to 100-unit apartment complex approved for construction in downtown Gastonia was put on hold because of the possible construction of a parking deck but remains on schedule for completion in 2022.

Center City Crossing is a $25 million, seven-story building construction project at 147 W. Main Ave. However, first, the three-level parking deck on the back of Gastonia Conference Center will need to be expanded by adding three levels, the Gaston Gazette reported.

The parking deck’s construction could begin in July, with completion this fall, according to the Gaston Gazette. If the project is constructed according to schedule, the complex could open in 2022.

John Allen, project manager for the apartment complex project developer Kuester Commercial, told the Gaston Gazette that construction on the apartments could start in September, but that the parking deck must be completed before construction on the apartment complex can begin because multiple construction projects can’t occur simultaneously in the small space.

Gastonia City Council recently awarded EMJ Corporation the preliminary design/build contract of $222,637 for the parking expansion, the Gaston Gazette reported. A $96,000 contract to Kuester Development was approved for consulting services. 

Gastonia owns the parking deck behind the conference center. The parking deck was originally built so that it could be expanded, with an added three to three-and-a-half levels for approximately 160 to 175 more spaces, according to a memorandum on the resolution awarding the preliminary design/build and consulting contracts.

“Recently the City has been working with private developers interested in constructing a new apartment building and new hotel in the same block of the conference center and parking deck,” the memorandum said. “Both of these proposed new developments will increase the demand for parking in downtown, and expanding the parking deck now will help add more parking supply for this new growth.”