With about five months to go before the city’s new parking structure is scheduled for completion, the Berwyn City Council approved preliminary parking rates at its June 9 meeting.

The rates will make the cost of parking comparable to similar structures in neighboring suburbs and bring an estimated $159,000 annually into the city’s coffers, according to Sara Bratcher, senior urban planner with the Berwyn Development Corp.

“This can all be changed down the line,” Bratcher said. “In my mind, this is something to start with and see what the response is.”

The five-story structure, located at 3320 Grove Ave., about half a block south of the Oak Park Avenue Metra Station, will include 378 spaces, 300 of which will be reserved for commuter parking. The additional 78 spots will be used as open parking spaces.

The structure also will include about 15,000 square feet of retail space, which is slated for the ground level.

The 86 spots along Windsor and Grove avenues that are currently reserved commuter spaces will be moved inside the deck, infusing the area with much-needed parking spaces for patrons of Depot District businesses, Bratcher said. All 378 spaces will be open to the public during nights and weekends.

The $12 million parking deck, which is scheduled for completion in November, is being funded in part by grants, including $2 million from the Illinois Department of Transportation, and $435,000 from Metra.

To date, construction costs are coming in under budget at $10.2 million. The figure includes $70,000 the City Council approved 6-2 June 9 to seal windows and install security fences between the deck and a neighboring building.

The design for the parking deck puts the north wall of the structure within 2 feet of the neighboring building. The owners expressed concern that the marginal space could make the building prone to  vandalism and other criminal activity. The owners also were concerned the space could make routine maintenance difficult.

The city and building owners began discussing the possibility of sealing the windows when plans for the deck started taking shape more than eight years ago, Bratcher said.

Third Ward Alderman Marge Paul, who voted against the expenditure along with Michele Skryd, 4th Ward, said $70,000 seemed excessive for masonry work.

“I don’t have a problem with the work, I just think $70,000 for that amount of work is stunning,” Paul said.

The BDC is still working to negotiate the rate down, and the work will cost no more than $70,000, Bratcher said.