DDA Board recommends streetscape improvements over Randall Plaza reconstruction to City Council

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Downtown Development Authority Board recommended to the City Council Wednesday morning that a streetscape improvement project in the downtown area be pursued and not the reconstruction of the Randall Plaza.

The recommendations are expected to come before the City Council during their April 14 meeting.

Two options were presented to the board. They chose the option which includes medians with landscaping. There would also be wayfinding elements, pedestrian lighting, sidewalk snowmelt, improved seating areas and basic infrastructure improvements.

The estimated cost for the work between Clay and Jefferson streets would be about $3.7 million while the cost for improvements between Hanchett Street and the Four Corners would be just under $2 million. Outside grant funding would be pursued to help pay for the work.

It’s estimated the Randall Plaza reconstruction would have cost about $2.3 million through the use of fund balance and contribution from the CBPU towards utility work.

Under the plan, the asphalt cap would have been taken out and all utilities replaced and upgraded. In addition, there would have been light landscaping and reconfiguration of the layout which would affect over 160 parking spaces.

The information was presented to the board after there were 438 responses to a Corridor and Public Amenity Survey last year.

Branch County Economic Growth Alliance Director Audrey Tappenden said in her letter to the board that the designs were not firm and that if approved, an additional design phase would take place with the potential for more community input. It’s estimated the work would not start until 2027 at the earliest.

The City Council will soon be deciding how the city will allocate $1-point-5 million of general fund balance. According to Tappenden, the investment is separate from the $5 million that will be raised from the approval of a bond by city voters.

She said the 1.52 mill levy over the next 10 years has been allocated for such projects as the reconstruction of parts of East and West Pearl Street as well as Morse Street and maybe one or two blocks of South Hudson.