CRA OKs paving, streetscaping
The city-owned parking lot at the southwest corner of Southeast 47th Terrace and Southeast 10th Place will be getting some much needed improvements after the CRA Board of Commissioners voted 7-1 Monday night in favor of paving and streetscaping work.
The lot, located behind Nevermind, currently is not paved.
“I think in this day and age it is an abomination to have a dirt parking lot down there,” said Commissioner Jim Burch. “We need to show some progress for that area.”
The CRA previously approved spending $110,000 for the lot paving, which began recently. Monday they approved an additional $241,309 for work on the alley, lot enhancements and streetscape improvements with brick pavers, trees and bulb-outs similar to the design on Lafayette Street.
The funds will come from the CRA budget.
Commissioner Richard Leon asked the board to hold off on the streetscape improvements for a year or until it can be part of a larger project with other business projects in the area.
Commissioner Lenny Nesta voiced concern that improvements done now would open the door for a mix of paver colors along 47th Terrace as other projects are undertaken. He suggested the city establish some standards for how they envision the streetscaping along 47th Terrace.
Public Works Director Steve Neff told the board that the small scale of the lot project drew only one willing bidder. He sought out another contractor, Wright Constructrion Group, that presented a quote that was 40 percent lower than the initial bid.
Leon cast the lone dissenting vote in the board’s 7-1 approval.
Completion of the project is anticipated in late November.
The CRA’s next meeting is Aug. 18.