A city-owned parking garage in downtown Roanoke is in such bad shape that it may cost more to repair it than it did to build it 15 years ago, the city council learned Monday.

And, as a result of the problems, parking fees in city-owned garages may be increased to pay for the repairs to the Market Garage, also known before as Century Station.

The council received its latest briefing Monday morning on the 468-space garage from an engineering consulting firm, Sutton Kennerly & Associates of Greensboro, N.C. A report completed by the firm outlined numerous structural problems that could cost as much as $6.1 million to fix. The parking deck was built for $5 million in 1991.

In recent months, the city, which took over ownership of the garage in 2003, first heard of the problems and is now beginning to grasp just how significant they are: 61 percent of 801 precast connections show problems; 15 percent of those are "unacceptable"; 46 percent of welds are "marginal"; and all 310 of the structure's precast panels should be replaced, according to Sutton Kennerly's findings.

"It's a pretty condemning report," Vice Mayor David Trinkle said.

Council members asked if the city has any legal recourse to sue firms involved in the construction of the garage, including Roanoke's J.M. Turner Inc.

Because the facility was constructed 15 years ago, the statute of limitations on such matters has expired, City Attorney Bill Hackworth said.

But Brian Townsend, director of planning, building and economic development, said city officials have met with J.M. Turner representatives and the company has agreed to provide some services free of charge to the city as it repairs the garage.

The construction company's chief executive, Jay Turner, has said his firm is willing to review its files and discuss the situation with the city.

The council decided Monday to proceed with some essential repairs, estimated at a cost of $730,000, and then devise a strategy to potentially work with a developer to make major improvements to the structure -- a plan that could include commercial business or residential housing components. The garage, located next to the historic Fire Station No. 1, has been eyed as a potential anchor for improvements on the City Market.

The city has already spent several hundred thousand dollars on the garage, including close to $100,000 it has paid Sutton Kennerly.

The garage remains open with safety precautions to protect traffic and pedestrians. The additional work will be done in phases.

The council made no decision regarding longer-term financing of the remaining garage repairs, which could include an across-the-board parking fee increase.