Construction for the next phase of Columbus’ State Street Revitalization Project is expected to begin this spring after the city granted $1.745 million in funding.
Columbus City Council on Tuesday voted 5-1 to approve a resolution to fund Phase 2B of the project, developing the north side of Third Street from Central Avenue to California Street and then going north on California Street to Fifth Street.
The project will provide a pedestrian connection from the east side of the city to downtown Columbus, said Heather Pope, Columbus redevelopment director downtown area.
A 10-foot-wide multi-use trail will be added at the back of the Third Street curb, in addition to pedestrian lighting, a two-foot-wide brick shy zone similar to what is already on State Street and a brick gateway node at Third Street and California Avenue, Pope said.
New curb and gutters will be added on both sides of California Street from Third to Fifth streets. All four corners at the Fifth and California intersection will receive new ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A gateway node will be installed at the southeast corner of Fifth Street and California Avenue, Pope said.
City councilman at-large Tom Dell voted against the funding, saying he disagreed with all the overhead utilities in the project being relocated underground.
“I thought we could do the project without burying the power lines,” Dell said.
Councilman Frank Miller was absent from the council meeting Tuesday night.
Pope appeared before the council with Jeromy Richardson, Indianapolis-based United Consulting project manager, to answer questions about Phase 2B, which received preliminary approval from the Columbus Redevelopment Commission in December.
The project is being funded using tax increment financing dollars from the city’s Central TIF District.
The city has spent $4.7 million on the State Street Revitalization Project so far with Phase I costing $2.1 million and Phase 2A carrying a price tag of $2.6 million.
Phase 1 work involved a People Trail connection on Central Avenue to the Hawcreek bridge with two plazas added on each side with benches, brick pavers and lighting. An 8-foot walking path was added on the north side of the bridge, while a 6-foot sidewalk was added to the south side.
Phase 2A installed two green spaces at Stadler Drive and at Indiana Avenue and State Street, and adding new sidewalks, a multi-use trail and decorative panels featuring Paul Rand’s Dancing C’s design.
“With the completion of Phase I, 2A and 2B, pedestrians will have a safe, attractive ADA compliant connection from Mapleton Street into an area where safe, calm pedestrian access can continue our Avenue of Architects,” Pope said. “It’s a safe, beautiful trail connection that will be accessible by all.”
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop said the upcoming phase will continue a connection from the east side of Columbus to downtown and vice versa.
“What we want to do is draw those visitors down State Street,” Lienhoop said. “I think it cements the fact that east Columbus is a integral part of the community.”
Richardson said construction could begin in March depending on weather, but may take place in April with work expected to wrap up sometime in August.
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Bids for Phase 2B of the State Street Revitalization Project will be opened Feb. 12 during the 9 a.m. Columbus Board of Works meeting at Columbus City Hall.
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