Joe Montana Says Levi's Stadium Hotel Project Parking Lot Impasse With 49ers Will Soon Be Resolved
SANTA CLARA (CBS SF) -- A parking lot impasse between the San Francisco 49ers and former star quarterback Joe Montana's hotel project at Levi's Stadium may soon be paved over.
Montana told the Santa Clara Weekly he expects a quick resolution on the issue of hundreds of stadium parking slots being eliminated by the Tasman Dr. Centennial Gateway development.
"We have been actively engaged in constructive, ongoing discussions with the San Francisco 49ers on the issue of parking at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara," Montana told the Santa Clara Weekly. "We understand the 49ers entered into a Parking Rights Agreement allowing them certain rights to the Tasman Lots. We have every reason to believe that this issue will be successfully resolved in the very near future."
The Hall of Fame quarterback is leading a group that plans to build a four-star hotel, restaurant and sports bar complex in time for the Super Bowl L in February 2016.
The 49ers and the city of Santa Clara have an agreement that any development eliminating parking spaces designated for Levi's Stadium must include replacement parking.
The 49ers strongly denied reports the team would block the Montana project over the parking spaces, which number less than 800.
"Joe talked about a great working relationship with us and like any large development plan, it takes time to get things done," 49ers CEO Jed York said. "We've had a great relationship with Joe, we have a great relationship with the city, and we'll make sure we find a creative solution to all of the things that need to be done."
City Manager Julio Fuentes told the Weekly that with the Montana project not scheduled to start until 2015, there is plenty of time for the city and the 49ers to find agreeable alternative parking sites. "The problem can be mitigated, we can find alternatives, but we have to work together," he told the Weekly.
Earlier this week, nearby Mission College announced a deal with the team to provide Levi's Stadium with an additional 2,200 parking spaces in return for a percentage of the parking proceeds.
