FROM: W.
Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Downtown
Streetscape Construction Options
DATE: December 11, 2000
Adoption of the attached resolution would authorize the Town Manager to:
· Develop detailed working drawings for Streetscape improvements to the east side of North Columbia Street between Franklin and Rosemary Streets and to the North side of East Franklin Street from McAlister’s Deli to Henderson Street;
· Discuss construction plans with affected property owners and merchants; and
· Schedule construction to begin in May of 2001.
In 1996, $1,000,000 in Streets and Sidewalks bonds were approved for Streetscape improvements. To date, $500,000 has been allocated from bond sales with the additional $500,000 anticipated in early 2002. Of the $500,000 currently allocated, approximately $165,000 has been expended for two sections of Streetscape improvements in the 100 block of East Franklin Street constructed during 1999 and 2000. In May of 2000, the Council authorized encumbering an additional $60,000 in available funds for construction of improvements associated with the Orange County Skills Development Center in the 500 block of West Franklin Street. The estimated remaining balance from the current appropriation is $275,000.
Adoption of the attached resolution would authorize the
Town Manager to allocate $85,000 of this current appropriation for construction
of two discrete sections of Streetscape improvements similar in total size to
projects completed during the preceding summer construction periods. A related report, “Downtown Street and Pedestrian
Lighting Options”,,
included in tonight’s Council agenda, discusses options for using a portion of
the balance on downtown street and pedestrian lighting in 2001.
DISCUSSION
This report provides four
options for a construction projects to be completed
during the summer of 2001.
In 1998, Streetscape improvements were completed on the
west side of the 100 block of North Columbia Street. During 1999 and 2000, the entire length of
the north side of the 100 block of East Franklin Street was rebuilt from
Henderson Street to North Columbia Street. For
the upcoming year, we believe an appropriate location for sidewalk
reconstruction is the east side of the 100 block first block of
North Columbia Street from Franklin Street to Rosemary Street (aAttachments
#21
and #2). This section is opposite the 1998 improvements and
continues the construction recently completed at the corner where Spanky’s is
located.
This section is approximately 295 feet in length and
includes one
business entrance, two service alleys, a bus stop, and pedestrian access to
Parking Lot #2 located at the corner of North Columbia and Rosemary Streets. The estimated materials cost for
construction of this section by the Town’s Public Works Department is $70,000.
Given that the section described above is somewhat shorter
than the typical Streetscape project that can be completed during the summer,
an additional smaller section is proposed (attachment #3). This section, at thee east corner of Henderson and
East Franklin Streets is another “missing link” in recent new sidewalk
construction. The opposite corner on East Franklin in
front of the post office was completed in the fall of 1999. A portion of the streetscape between the
sidewalk and curb in front of the University Presbyterian Church was rebuilt as
part of renovations to the church in 1999. The
first commercial building adjacent to the church, McAlister’s Deli, opened this
summer with reconstruction of the adjacent sidewalk including outdoor dining
and a raised planter.
The section from McAlister’s Deli to the corner at Henderson Street is approximately 60 feet in length. The estimated materials cost for construction of this section by the Town’s Public Works Department is $15,000. The total materials cost estimate for both recommended projects is $85,000.
Advantages of this combined option include:
· High visibility locations;
· Complement to recent improvements on Columbia Street and on East Franklin Street;
· Opportunity to consider landscape improvements to integrate newspaper racks into the Streetscape on Columbia Street;
· Low proportion of business entrances onto the sidewalk facilitates construction;
· Shorter section proposed completes Streetscape improvements on the north side of East Franklin Street; and
· Possible availability of some off-street parking as construction staging area on Columbia Street.
Disadvantages of this option include:
·
High pedestrian traffic makes construction more
difficult than at other locations; and
· Grade changes at Columbia Street service alleys and bus stop present design/construction challenges.
Three additional options for Streetscape projects have been discussed in recent years. Conceptual plans and associated discussion are included in the attachments as follows:
1. North
side of the 500 and 600 blocks of West Franklin Street from Chapel Hill Tire to
Crook’s Corner (Option #2 described on pages 113
and 157
in Attachment #43);
2. North
side of the 100 block of West Franklin Street from I Love New York Pizza to
Church Street (Option #3 on pages 124 and 168
in Attachment #43);
and
3. Old Post Office AlleyCourthouse
Alley (Attachment #54).
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council approve the attached resolution authorizing the Town Manager to:
· Develop detailed working drawings for Streetscape improvements to the east side of North Columbia Street between Franklin and Rosemary Streets and to the North side of East Franklin Street from McAlister’s Deli to Henderson Street;
· Discuss construction plans with affected property owners and merchants; and
· Schedule construction to begin in May of 2001.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Map of Streetscape construction completed to date (p. 5)..
2. Conceptual plan for Streetscape improvements to the
east side of the 100 block of North
CoColumbia Street (p. 6).
3. ;
1.
Conceptual
plan for Streetscape improvements to the north side of the 200 block of East t Franklin
from McAlister’s Deli to Henderson Street (p. 7).
4. Memorandum to Council dated
July 6, 1998, “Downtown Streetscape Construction Options;” (p. 98).
and
5.
Memorandum
to Council dated January 25, 1999, “Possible Improvements to Courthouse Alley” (p. 176).
.”
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO PREPARE
WORKING DRAWINGS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO the
east side of North Columbia Street between Franklin and Rosemary Streets and to
the North side of East Franklin Street from McAlister’s Deli to Henderson
Street; Discuss construction plans with affected property owners and merchants;
and Schedule construction to begin in May of 2001 (2000-12-11/r-14 ).
WHEREAS, the Council adopted the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan as part of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, $85,000 currently exists in bond funding to implement a portion of the Streetscape Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Council has received a report from the Town Manager describing four alternative plans for possible construction by Town labor forces in 2001; and
WHEREAS, Town resources permit construction of only one of the four options within a summer construction period;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to prepare finished working drawings for improvements at the sites described as the first project presented in the preceding report, discuss these improvements with affected property owners and merchants, and proceed with construction in May of 2001.
This the 11th day of December, 2000.