Marina City ramps under new management

1-Feb-11 – The two 18-story spiral parking ramps at Marina City have a new manager. Central Hospitality Services, a subsidiary of Central Parking System, took over on January 15, according to a letter to customers.

Standard Parking Corporation had managed the 900-car garages since May 1, 2009. Recently, however, a request for proposals was made on behalf of the owner of the ramps, LaSalle Hotel Properties. A contract was awarded to another operator, according to Shevket Dardovski, a Vice President for Standard Parking in Chicago.

According to its website, Central Parking System, based in Nashville, Tennessee, operates about 2,500 parking facilities, including 3,700 spaces in CTA “Park & Ride” lots.

Marina City residents who park in the complex complained about receiving both a bill from Standard Parking for February and a bill from Central Parking for apparently the same period. Residents also noticed an additional “new parker” charge of $119.50 on the CPS bill, even if the resident was not a new customer.

“Since the change-over was in the middle of the month in January, there were bills sent out by Standard Parking for February…for Marina City by accident,” explained Dardovski on Tuesday. He says customers only need to pay the new operator, sending payment to Central Parking at 333 North Dearborn Street.

On Monday, an employee of CPS explained that only the Central bill should be paid, less the additional charge.

As with the management handoff in 2009, there were no personnel changes at the Marina City ramps except for a new manager. The union employees have the option of working with a new operator or staying with the old operator.