Final phases of downtown revitalization project under way
By ELENA GRIMM egrimm@daily-chroncile.com
DeKALB – The city took the first steps Monday to get the final year of a downtown public improvements project under way.
The city council authorized spending about $230,000 in three separate agreements with ComEd, Comcast and Verizon so that each utility company can engineer how they will bury the power lines on Locust Street.
Aldermen heard from 14 people who are downtown business owners, Re:New DeKalb board members, members of the Citizens Community Enhancement Commission and other supporters of making large-scale improvements to the downtown. The improvements began in 2008 with reconstructing a municipal parking lot and continued this year with redesigning Second and Third streets on each side of Lincoln Highway.
Staff recommended to the city council that the final two phases – on Lincoln Highway and on Locust Street – be combined in 2010 rather than spaced out over two years.
Many who spoke about the multiyear project, which has an estimated cost of $12 million using tax increment financing funds, said that it will strongly impact the "heart and soul" of the city.
"There's an emotional attachment to it as well as an economic attachment," said longtime businessman John Castle.
Several supporters, like The Confectionary store owner Tom Smith, said they were adamantly opposed to the public improvements at first.
"What has resulted has been a very positive and attractive area," Smith told the council. "I would hate to see this thing stop midstream."
The last speaker, DeKalb resident Mac McIntyre, echoed his support for the project, but did not think it should be accelerated.
"I don't oppose the plan," he said. "But we're talking about a multigenerational investment on one hand and saying, 'speed up the investment projects on Locust Street' on the other."
McIntyre expressed concern that there may be a shortfall in revenue totaling several million dollars at the end of the 2010 budget year, and that "maybe that indeed is a signal that the atmosphere has changed."
The downtown projects are being paid for through tax increment financing funds. These allow taxing bodies to invest in specific areas that have been identified as having physical and economic deficiencies by applying new revenue generated within the TIF district to new development or redevelopment efforts in that area for a specific number of years.
"Just because it's state money, does not mean it's free money," McIntyre said.
Fourth Ward Alderman Brendon Gallagher and 6th Ward Alderman Dave Baker opposed the first resolution, which authorized an amount of $35,000 for ComEd to begin engineering work. The next two resolutions passed 6-0. Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen was absent from the meeting.
Gallagher suggested keeping the plan to the original schedule, where Lincoln Highway would be redeveloped in 2010 and Locust Street would be worked on in 2011. Baker said he was concerned about the timeline, and wanted flexibility in which project begins first.
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, City Manager Mark Biernacki said.
Aldermen will likely award a bid in April with Lincoln Highway work beginning around June 1, he said.
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