Downtown project details studied

How downtown will look following a reconstruction project in 2009 is becoming clearer.

Members of the Main Street Advisory Committee, city officials and others - about 30 people total - spent more than three hours Wednesday at Bremer Bank in downtown Brainerd poring over the proposals for streetscape items that early estimates show could cost more than $750,000, though that number could come down as details are changed.

The meeting covered several areas of design, from sidewalks to benches to kiosks. The committee kept some recommendations made by design consultants, Widseth Smith Nolting Inc. and SRF Consulting Group, and also made some changes.

"Collectively, our input will help achieve a downtown whose infrastructure will be updated and whose visible streetscape will beautify and enhance our community," said First Lutheran Pastor Andy Smith, the Main Street Advisory Committee chairman. "By design this project envisions a more vibrant downtown, one that will bring more people to its businesses and establishments."

The purpose of the meeting was not to determine final design or placement of streetscape items, only to determine what type of items would be included. Final design elements would be presented to the committee and property owners before seeking final approval by the city council.

"The stage we're at right now, I think what we're trying to get a direction on is when we do get final design authorization, which way should we head," said Tim Houle of WSN. "It's a public process, a public project and I think this discussion is good. We may go ahead two steps and have to come back three steps but I'd rather do that now then when a bulldozer is sitting out on Laurel Street."

Once consultants are authorized to proceed with final design, Houle said a third and final open house on the project would be conducted.

The committee's recommendations included:

An average of five trees per block side, including grates and special soil structure. Trees would be positioned between businesses to minimize visibility issues with store front signs. Downtown business owner Nila Patrick made a motion for fewer trees, reducing the overall cost of tree-related items and preserving current trees, but it was defeated in a 6-6 tie vote.

One 6-foot-long, high-quality metal bench per block side. A motion by property owner Dave Pueringer to reduce the number of benches and limit their placements away from store fronts and high-traffic areas unless asked for by a property owner failed in a tie vote.

Only considering wayfinding kiosks when the final bid is received as several committee members didn't see the need for them. The committee voted to eliminate two gateway kiosks at entrances into downtown. Pueringer said he was opposed because the art incorporated into the kiosks would be permanent. Instead he suggested creating areas for temporary art.

A scored concrete sidewalk with pavers at intersection bump outs and down the middle of the sidewalks. Business owner Al Gmeinder said he's seen pavers used in the middle of the sidewalks in Bemidji and they were attractive and long lasting.

Fencing along city-owned parking lots will be decided when bids are received.

Installing planters with seat walls, plant baskets and banners on decorative street lighting to be installed by Brainerd Public Utilities, bike loops and trash receptacles and possibly ash pots for cigarette butts that would match the style of benches.

Patrick also presented the committee with a catalog from a company that made several of the items for the streetscape design. She said she'd received quotes for the items, several of which were cheaper than estimated by the consultants.

"We are repeating the mistakes we made before," Patrick said. "I'm fighting against wasteful spending."

Barry Warner, senior vice president at SRF Consulting Group, told the committee that the quotes received and what the city would actually pay would be different once contractor and manufacturer profits were figured. There also was discussion on how much of the work city crews could do.

Streets affected by the project will be Laurel Street from South Sixth to South Eighth streets, Front Street from South Sixth to South Eighth streets and South Seventh Street from Maple to Front streets. The total project will cost an estimated $2.4 million and include street surface, infrastructure and streetscape reconstruction. Thirty percent of the project cost will be assessed to downtown property owners and 70 percent will be paid by the city.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.