ST. GEORGE — After months of delays, a car garage at the New York Wheel site will open to the public Friday, potentially easing the "nightmare" parking situation in the neighborhood.
The garage will open its first 820 spots to the public Friday after the structure finally obtained a temporary certificate of occupancy from the city, New York Wheel CEO Rich Marin said.
"It took us a little longer than we hoped, but we got it done," Marin said. "All of the parking issues should start to fade away as people start to realize they can park there."
The lot — which will cost $8 to park in — will be valet-only while construction at the site's under way, Marin said.
The garage will eventually accommodate 950 cars when it finishes construction, which Marin expects to be in December.
"It's important to the community and I'm glad I'll finally be able to open it," he said.
After several lots adjacent to the St. George Ferry Terminal closed in 2015 to make way for the construction of the wheel and the Empire Outlets, parking around the terminal became a "nightmare," the Staten Island Advance reported.
The garage was originally scheduled to open in May, but was hit with numerous delays and had its opening date pushed back several times.
Most recently, Marin hoped to have the garage ready in time for opening day of the Staten Island Yankees on June 24, but was unable to get certificate of occupancy in time.
"Every day is a new adventure when you're doing this," he said.
The garage is part of the $580 million New York Wheel project headed to St. George, which will bring a 630-foot observation wheel to the waterfront when it opens next year.
The foundation for the wheel was poured earlier this summer, and Marin expects the legs to be installed in October.
