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$5 million for two garages
In August 1961, Charles Swibel negotiated a 25-year lease of the 16-story spiral parking garages for $200,000 per year. Managing the 900-car garages would be Marina City Garage & Parking Corporation. The president of this newly-formed company was Samuel Burke, a partner in the law firm of Burke, Russ & Rawson. Company officials also included Russell and Jerome Bernstein, who operated the Washburn-Monroe Garage & Parking Corporation.
Swibel said the lease would allow him to review financial records of the garage each year and make sure parking charges were held at moderate levels.
All of the parking would be done by attendants, who would use manlifts to get quickly to the various floors. Holding areas on two floors of each ramp would accommodate as many as 100 cars awaiting parking during peak periods.
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The belt manlift today at Marina City. (Left) On the plaza level of the east residential tower, System Parking manager David Amponsah waits for a foot board to appear on the belt manlift. (Center) Amponsah steps onto the foot board and (right) rides the belt manlift upward.
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By July 1964, Jerry Bernstein had become part owner of Marina City Garage & Parking Corporation. He announced a deal with Hertz to offer rental cars to Marina City residents, with just 15 minute notice. At the time, only 25 percent of residents had a car – or more accurately, parked a car at Marina City.
Said Bernstein, “The original concept of Marina City having been the convenience of living in the heart of the city and within walking distance of offices, shops and restaurants, we did not expect all of the residents would be car owners.”
The garage was open 24 hours a day, and provided gas, oil, lube and washing. Leonard Goldin was the manager during the day, Ben Martin was the night manager.
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