--- Bill Hammann <bhammann@charter.net> wrote:
> Please Post on your web site:
>
>
> Public Hearing and motion to approve Streetscape
> plan for Main Street phase 1
>
> Public Works Meeting
> Monday, June 27 at 6:00 p.m.
> Council Chambers, City Hall
> How do you want Evansville's new Main Street to
> look?
>
> In 2005, as part of the Hwy. 14 reconstruction
> project the state D.O.T. is planning to rip up the
> portion of Main St. to replace the storm sewer. The
> City will reconstruct Main St. from Union St. to
> Allen Creek.
>
> In 2007, the City will reconstruct Main St. from
> Allen Creek to First Street.
>
> The reconstruction will involve replacing the
> sanitary sewer and water mains under the street, the
> street itself, the curb, gutter, and sidewalks.
>
> This will meeting focused on reconstruction efforts
> occurring in 2005.
>
>
>
> The discussion on Main Street between Union St. &
> the Bridge reconstruction were as follows:
>
> a.. Sidewalk - width, color & style
> b.. Since this section of downtown contains
> several residential homes, The preliminary design
> showed sidewalk with grass terrace similar to a
> residential area. This addresses Citizen concerns
> regarding separating this section of Main St. from
> the West Side.
> c.. The preliminary design has the lower cost
> standard concrete sidewalk.
> d.. Costs difference between a standard concrete
> sidewalk ($3 to $4 per square foot) and stamped and
> colored concrete sidewalk ($10 to $12 per square
> foot.)
> a.. Road Width
> b.. The preliminary design kept the street width
> at 46'.
> a.. Miscellaneous amenities (trees, benches,
> etc.)
> a.. The preliminary design has the same
> pedestrian lights currently on Main St. with
> planters & banners. It's contained 3 - 5 more lights
> to create a safer walking environment.
> b.. The preliminary design has 2 - 3 more trees,
> but no trees directly in across from storefront
> entrances and signs.
> c.. The preliminary design has one trash
> receptacle at the end of Main St.
> d.. The preliminary design has one bench to be
> located on the south side of Allen creek.
> e.. The preliminary design one bike rack located
> near local businesses.
>
> Bill Hammann Chair, Public Works Committee
Cambridge did a very nice job on the main street area. It is open, but the design encourages people to walk through the downtown. It looks very nice. The downside is that there are many many closed store fronts. A lot of the business closed and have not re opened.
ReplyDeleteI think parking is a major issue facing the downtown area in Evansville. What a pain to get a spot then to back out of it.
Has the city considered adding a parking lot anywhere?
Bill I know this is off the subject but I have a question and then a suggestion. Is the Post Office in the TIF district? Could the city possibly purchase the green house next door and use the space for parking and perhaps a better Post Office?
ReplyDeleteAyn asked about the post office. This is a delicate issue. The library needs to expand sometime in the next few years, and because it is a public building on the national historic register, it can only expand to the rear. We don't want to be threatening to the post office or the private owner of the building (the post office leases the space), but the city is interested in acquiring the post office property. This, of course, would mean moving the post office. We hope that the new post office location would be in or near the downtown, and perhaps have better parking than the current location. But to answer Ayn's question directly, the post office currently is not in the TIF district.
ReplyDeleteI think the plan for the 2007 Main St. project includes adding more angle parking on Main St. and adding some angle parking on Maple St. Dealing with the downtown parking issue is an implementation item in the new Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan.
Bill Connors
Evansville City Administrator
Bill, what about the hardware store for the post office. It would be centrally located, plenty of room for them, and there is parking in the back.
ReplyDeleteI do believe as well the hardware store is in the TIF district and it is my understanding that they are def. going to be moving.
ReplyDeleteThe Ace Hardware store has requested approval of a site plan for a new store next to the new Bank of Evansville on Brown School Road. I hope that the owners of the current Ace location in the downtown (in the TIF district) will develop a proposal for renovating the building and bring that proposal to the Redevelopment Authority.
ReplyDeleteI had the same idea as one of the anonymous posters--maybe the post office could move into the building the Ace store currently occupies. I do not know if that location would work for the post office's operational needs, but it would be great location for customers.
Bill Connors
Evansville City Administrator
The postoffice at the location of the Ace Hardware store would be much better than moving it further out of the main part of town.
ReplyDeleteEvansville needs to consider having a motel. I believe one was considered for the east side, but area residents did not want all the light that would surround such a business.
ReplyDeleteThis would not only be advantageous for commercial reasons, but we would all benefit from having a convenient location to put up the in-laws when they visit, or for wedding guests to stay overnight, etc. A banquet facility would also be useful.
I have heard a number of people say we need a motel, and I agree whole heartedly. It seems to me the southeast corner of USH 14 and CTH M would be good location, with the new traffic lights that will control that intersection.
ReplyDeleteI also think the Adams and Wilmovsky properties on Union St. between the lumber yard and the Green Forest II restaurant would be a good location for a motel and/or other commercial establishments. I wish the owners of those properties would redevelop them or sell them to someone who wants to redevelop them. They are in our downtown TIF district, so I anticipate city money would be available to assist with the cost of redevelopment. That area will be so much more attractive than it was after the USH 14 reconstruction project is complete, with new curb and gutter, sidewalk, and decorative lighting.
If you know anyone looking for business opportunities, please tell them about these.
Bill Connors
Evansville City Adminstrator