New planters, several blocks of streetlights part of facelift
Part of a $350,000 downtown revitalization grant will be used to plumb and electrify one or more parking lots in Downtown Kearney: The Bricks. Availability of water and electricity would help organizers of events such as Spirit at the Museum of Nebraska Art.
Posted: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:00 pm
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Updated: 12:16 pm, Wed Jul 11, 2012.
Kearney Hub
KEARNEY — Energy-efficient streetlights and landscaping improvements will go forward in Downtown Kearney: The Bricks with a $350,000 downtown revitalization grant.
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development awarded the money after the city of Kearney spent an earlier grant of $30,000 developing a master plan to revitalize downtown.
An official with DED’s Downtown Revitalization Division said Tuesday Kearney has been awarded the $350,000 because state officials believe the lighting and landscaping will fit well with Kearney’s master plan for redeveloping the downtown district.
“This funding is for the catalyst-type project that spurs other private and public projects downtown,” said Kevin Andersen, DED economic development consultant and a representative for the Downtown Revitalization Program.
“When you look at the World Theatre across from the Museum of Nebraska Art, it’s an opportunity to create some good event space and a draw into the downtown area,” Andersen said. “Hopefully, it will spill into more customers in The Bricks.”
Assistant City Manager Suzanne Brodine said last month she expects the improvements would be completed in 2013.
Part of the money will pay for new streetlights on Central Avenue from 22nd Street north to 25th Street. Some nearby side streets also will get new lights.
As for landscaping, it is anticipated that changing the configuration of in-ground planters will allow more space on sidewalks for activities such as outdoor dining.
In addition to streetlights and landscaping, grant money will allow for one or more downtown parking lots to be plumbed for water and wired for electricity.
The water and power would come in handy for events such as Cruise Nite or Destination Downtown, Brodine said last month.
Lots targeted for power and plumbing are at Cunningham’s Journal, the Museum of Nebraska Art and city hall’s north lot at Avenue A and 23rd Street.
The lighting, landscaping and parking lots with water and power are among the improvements that were charted for downtown Kearney using the earlier $30,000 planning grant.
Consultants envision a park on 24th Street between First and Central Avenues, as well as a long list of improvements to give downtown Kearney a major facelift. Some of the ideas are bicycle routes and way-finding signs.
Many of the consultants’ suggestions constitute public-private partnerships in which government money would help private developers with improvements such as upper story windows and small plazas.
Brodine estimated that pursuing all of the consultants’ ideas would span 10 years and cost more than $13 million.
Andersen agreed that $350,000 in improvements is just a beginning.
“We’re under the understanding,” he said, “that $350,000 isn’t going to go a long, long way in a downtown the size of Kearney’s, but considering some of the improvements Kearney is looking to undertake, this fits well into what they’re trying to accomplish.”
email to:
mike.konz@kearneyhub.com
More about Bricks
- ARTICLE: Work to start soon on Brigham Lofts
- IMAGE: Bricks in windows – gone
- ARTICLE: Along with high-visibility changes such as park, revitalization plan includes more downtown, second-floor residences, better north-south unity
- ARTICLE: Downtown parking time limit may be changed to 3 hours
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Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:00 pm.
Updated: 12:16 pm.
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