Event to commemorate road opening pushed back for completion
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A wheel loader carries a skid of bricks on Fourth Street west of Washington Street on Wednesday afternoon during the final stages of the construction project.
PHOTO BY ANDREW LAKER
Bricks are going into place near the halfway point on Fourth Street between Washington and Jackson streets Wednesday as construction draws closer to completion.
PHOTO BY ANDREW LAKER
An event to celebrate opening of the $1.7 million Fourth Street beautification project has been postponed until spring.
Planners had been looking at a Nov. 29 event to mark opening of the revamped two-block stretch through the downtown arts and entertainment district.
While Fourth Street itself is expected to open for vehicular traffic by late next week, the project will not be complete until decorative gates are installed in January, City Engineer Dave Hayward said.
The celebration delay is threefold, according to Chris Schilling, communications and program coordinator for the city of Columbus.
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Candlelight Shopping Though the festivities surrounding the grand reopening of Fourth Street have been postponed until spring, about a dozen Washington Street shops will stay open until 8 p.m. on Nov. 28, and each Thursday until Christmas. Called Candlelight Shopping, the evening will include festive refreshments, entertainment at some shops, and special promotions and sales. Participating shops include: O’Child’s Children’s Boutique, 408 Washington St., 376-4155 The Savory Swine, 410 Washington St., 657-7752 Viewpoint Books, 548 Washington St., 376-0778 Lockett’s Ladies Shop, 426 Washington St., 376-8363 Baker’s Fine Gifts & Accessories, 433 Washington St., 372-9635 Cummins PowerStore, 406 Washington St., 888-818-0969 Dell Brothers Inc. 416 Washington St., 372-4486 Gramz Bakery & Cafe, 4-9 Washington St., 378-9728 Imagination Station, 315 Washington St., 373-9636 kidscommons, 309 Washington St., 378-3046 Parlor 424, 424 Washington St., 343-8711 |
“When we celebrate, we want to have a totally finished project,” he said.
The fact that electric outlets may not be reinstalled along the street by next week also complicates the situation with live, amplified entertainment, he said. And the fall weather is another matter.
“You’re kind of gambling this time of year with how cold it might be,”
Schilling said.
Original plans for the event were to include a high school jazz ensemble, a high school choir and perhaps another live act, according to organizers.
The beautification project began Sept. 4 to repave the street with bricks and line it with decorative streetlights. The new design will enable the city to create a plaza atmosphere, with street pavement and sidewalks at the same level, making it pedestrian-friendly and more conducive to festivals and other gatherings.
Hayward said plans for the gates won’t be finalized until a conference call Monday.
He said trees and benches should be installed by late next week.
“The gates are really the only wild card at this point,” he said.
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