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Politics & Government

Part Two: Streetscape Committee Works On Wilson Street

The Downtown Streetscape Committee speak with residents about possible enhancements to Batavia's main road.

On April 5, the Streetscape Committee discussed multiple aspects of Wilson Street. Here is the second of two parts recapping the meeting.

For the first installment of this story, click .

Opening Up Library Space

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The library right now is a secret garden, enclosed with no real entryway on Batavia Avenue, Mac Manus observed.

Joe Marconi, owner of Special Occasions on the Avenue, 2 N. Batavia Ave., pleaded with the library to create an exit way closer to Batavia Avenue and Wilson Street. But the library wouldn’t budge, he said.

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Along with the exit on Batavia Avenue, there should be a colored crosswalk, MacManus said.

The library’s hillside should be opened up to create a beautiful view of the downtown. Presently, the view is blocked by trees, MacManus said.

The city can open up the hillside with the creation of staircases leading up to a terrace along the full length of the river, Bellalta proposed.

The terrace could be a great place to watch the fireworks, said Joi Cuartero, Batavia Main Street Director.

Batavia and Wilson: Dangerous Intersection?

Many residents voiced this concern: Cars fly around the corner of Batavia Avenue and Wilson Street, making it hard for pedestrians to cross the street.

To alleviate these problems, MacManus suggested adding a colored crosswalk at the intersection of Batavia Avenue and Wilson Street. Also, adding planters at the intersection and railings to create an edge would help slow down traffic, he said.

The city is working on installing Hawk Lights downtown on Houston Street, First Street, Union Street and Millview Drive, McGrath said. Hawk Lights make it easier for pedestrians to cross the street, he said.

It’s great to hear them reinforce the improvements that need to be made at the intersection of Batavia Avenue and Wilson Street, said resident Jack Zaruba. He said watching his 90-year-old father push his mother across the intersection is a scary sight to behold.

Zaruba said his father would get anxious waiting for the signal to walk, so he would just go. He never got hit, Zaruba said.

The Benefit of Businesses, Parking

Altamanu and the Streetscape’s strategic plan for downtown is imperative for businesses to see. The city needs to invite businesses to help them build the downtown. If they don’t have a solid plan, businesses will not want to come downtown, responded Carrie Sebold, a Streetscape committee member.

Making a plan is the first step the city must take. Other towns have already taken this step to attract people to their downtown, Mac Manus added.

The city is committed to beautifying their downtown with the help of Altamanu and the Streetscape Committee. Next year, the city will spend $6 million dollars to start improving one area of downtown, said Alderman Dave Brown as people clapped.

“(The city staff like) what’s happening in downtown Batavia, " said Mayor Jeff Schielke, agreeing with Brown. "The city is serious and (has) taken strong ownership with this opportunity. We are going to put our money where our mouths are."

MacManus said the city should think of Mountain View, CA, and remember that the city is planning a place, not a project. 

The city needs to envision how downtown will look in the future, MacManus said.  MacManus recommended sticking to the plan to retain the city’s character.

Don’t allow developers to come in to modify the city’s plan with proposals calling for many parking spaces or drive-thrus, he said.

The vision off Austin Dempsey from Batavia Enterprises didn’t quite align with Altamanu's view.  He said the city needs to be realistic—it can’t limit the number of parking spaces the developers are allowed. To do that is economic suicide for the community, Dempsey said.

“Parking in Naperville is difficult, but you don’t have the drive-up parking or drive thru; it’s part of culture as supposed to sticking out in the middle like McDonald's,” Sebold said. "Parking is vital to success of Batavia, but doing it correctly instead of making it 7/8 of our platform is what we need to do, so there is a happy medium.”

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