Get A Closer Look at Streetscape Project With Open House This Thursday

This information is courtesy of the City of Batavia.

Get an in-depth look at the Downtown Streetscape Project this Thursday with two unique events.

First is an open house that will begin at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday, April 28 in the City Council Chambers at. Then the city’s design Consultant Altamanu, Inc. will give a formal presentation of the plan at 7 p.m.

This venue will provide an opportunity for the public to view the plan, which should enhance the downtown by improving the pedestrian and business environment and beautifying five downtown neighborhoods according to a city press release.

In addition the public can discuss the plan with members of the Downtown Streetscape Advisory Committee appointed by the city council, Altamanu and city staff.  The advisory committee includes downtown property and business owners, representatives of Batavia MainStreet, the City Council, Plan Commission and Historic Preservation Commission.

The plan must be approved and adopted by the city council; however it must first be presented and recommended to the council by the Community Development Committee.  The committee will review the plan on May 10.

After the council adopts the preliminary design plan, the city will retain an engineering firm to create construction drawings based on the plan and then solicit bids for the construction work.  According to a press release the design phase of the streetscape project is expected to be complete in the spring of 2012 with construction beginning and the first part of the project completed in 2012.

A $1.5 million grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation was awarded to the city for a portion of the streetscape improvements. The remainder of the project will be paid through Tax Increment Finance money generated from the city’s two downtown TIF districts.

To read the most recent Batavia Patch Streetscape story, click .