Logo: City of Kearney
Posted: Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:03 pm
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Updated: 1:05 pm, Thu May 31, 2012.
Kearney Hub
KEARNEY — City officials soon will learn whether a state grant will allow for some new streetlights and landscaping improvements in downtown Kearney.
The $350,000 Downtown Revitalization Grant the city has requested from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development also would 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, said Assistant City Manager Suzanne Brodine.
“Cruise Nite or Destination Downtown would be great events where vendors could utilize those spaces,” Brodine said.
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.
If the city receives the $350,000 grant, it would be the next step following downtown revitalization planning conducted with a $30,000 DED grant. Outside planners envisioned a park on 24th Street between First and Central Avenues and a long list of improvements to give downtown Kearney a major facelift.
Some of the ideas were bicycle routes and way-finding signs.
Many of the consultants’ suggestions constituted public-private partnerships in which government money would assist private developers with improvements such as upper story windows and small plazas.
In all, the entire package of ideas would cost more than $13 million and require more than 10 years to complete, Brodine said, so city hall is looking at whittling off what it can for $350,000.
Part of the $350,000 would pay for new energy-efficient streetlights on Central Avenue from 22nd Street north to 25th Street. Some nearby side streets also would get new lights.
“It’s an energy-efficient lighting which is a boon to the city, but the level of lighting downtown would improve,” Brodine said.
Changing the configuration of in-ground planters would allow more space on sidewalks for activities such as outdoor dining.
Steve Charleston of DED’s Downtown Revitalization Division said Kearney officials will receive an award notification from DED in June that specifies how much money Kearney will receive.
Brodine said she expects the improvements would be completed in 2013.
In May, DED awarded downtown revitalization grants to Elwood, Columbus, Fremont and Tecumseh.
email to:
mike.konz@kearneyhub.com
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Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:03 pm.
Updated: 1:05 pm.
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