FARGO - After interviewing three developers for new downtown parking ramps today, the Parking Commission said it favors Kilbourne Group.

Commissioners said they liked the thoughtful blending of the ramp and buildings into the streetscape and the human-scale size compared to the others.

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Kilbourne's proposal, for example, includes commercial space in Roberts Alley, which shows potential as a small-scale retail corridor supplementing the Broadway retail corridor.

The project is estimated at $37.8 million, but may cost more because of the construction style favored by the commission and all three developers. Kilbourne estimates the cost of casting concrete in place instead of pre-casting and hauling in concrete structures at another $1.2 million. Casting in place makes for a more durable structure with lower maintenance costs, a big consideration for the city, which will eventually own the lot.

A lot of things remain to be worked out, including negotiating the contract and working with downtown businesses to ensure there's a parking plan in place during construction, which would temporarily eliminate about 175 parking stalls.

When finished, Kilbourne's project would provide 381 parking stalls, 143 housing units and 16,200 square feet of commercial space. Parking commissioners considered asking the developer to add another floor of parking.