Construction completed early, continues next year
By ELENA GRIMM egrimm@daily-chronicle.com
DeKALB – Orange cones and fences are down, and behind them, trees, benches and lights are up.
As construction on Second and Third streets in downtown DeKalb wrapped up last week, businesses and customers are looking ahead to the new view.
"This'll be the first week," Tomnee Muhammad, owner of RT Beauty Supply, 136 S. Second St., said when asked what he thought about the street improvements. "We'll see."
Phase Two of a multiyear, four-step streetscape project finished three weeks ahead of schedule and $500,000 under budget.
The outcome was new curbs and street surfaces; brick and concrete sidewalk; and installation of trees, landscaping, decorative streetlights and benches on Second and Third streets between Locust Street and the Union Pacific railroad tracks.
"Now that it's done, I think it's great. They did a really good job," said Jeff Leazier, who lives and works downtown.
Jennifer Groce, executive director of Re:New DeKalb, said that the months-long project played out "fairly seamlessly." Re:New is the city's downtown economic development organization that is overseeing the project.
Groce said it was important to nearby business owners that the work stay on track and be completed before the holiday shopping season began.
"We're gearing up for Holly Days and getting ready for a strong fourth quarter [in sales]," Groce said.
The total cost is about $1.8 million – less than the budgeted amount of $2.3 million – because some brick and other costly details were cut from the original plan, City Engineer Joel Maurer said.
As Leazier walked along North Third Street on Monday, he said he thinks the biggest improvements are the brick sidewalks and new patio areas at several restaurants.
But whether the public improvements will help business?
"I hope so," Leazier said. "There are a lot of nice shops around here. I'd hate to see any of them go down."
Muhammad is more optimistic.
"It won't hurt," he said.
But not everyone who frequents the downtown area are happy with the new look.
While having lunch at The House Cafe on Monday, Trish Jago and Chuck DeMaio lamented that the new amenities were more than they felt was necessary.
Jago moved from St. Charles to DeKalb "to get away," she said. When the streetscape plan was being introduced, she again moved away, to Rochelle.
"I don't think it's DeKalb," she said. "I like it being a community downtown. ... Bricks aren't going to bring people downtown."
DeMaio suggested that money should instead support and attract businesses by giving loans or other financial support rather than with aesthetics.
The streetscape project continues next year with work on Lincoln Highway and possibly Locust Street. Though Locust Street work was slated for 2011, Groce said that in meetings with downtown business owners, many would prefer having both projects in 2010: Lincoln Highway in the summer, and Locust Street in the fall.
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