City looks ahead to downtown revitalization projects

SANDPOINT — With the first phase of the city's downtown revitalization project out to bid, city officials are now looking ahead to the second phase of the project, set for 2019.

City Council approved an amended contract with Century West Engineering Wednesday to extend the scope of the project to include a conceptual design for Farmin's Landing and the second phase of the downtown revitalization, which will include a design and public involvement for the intersection at Bridge Street, First Avenue and Church Street.

“That has been the subject of much debate,” said City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton during Wednesday's council meeting.

When the downtown streets reverted to two-way last summer, the city heard several complaints about the intersection, which includes an oblong, four-way yield. Stapleton said she expects the public involvement process to begin in a few weeks.

Upcoming public involvement will include designs for Farmin's Landing as well, Stapleton said.

"There is an initial concept design that has been developed, but it hasn’t gone any further than an initial discussion that the mayor had with adjacent property owners," she said. 

Stapleton said revisions will be made to the concept design based on public feedback.

The cost with associated with the amended contract is $41,537 for the Farmin’s Landing project, and $272,599 for the second phase of the downtown revitalization.

The downtown revitalization project is funded through the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency. About half of the Farmin’s Landing project is funded through a grant from the LOR Foundation, and the rest through sewer funds for stormwater mitigation, Stapleton said.

The first phase of the downtown revitalization project, which includes improvements to Cedar Street between Second and Fifth avenues, is scheduled to begin in late May, following Lost in the '50s weekend.

The second phase of the downtown revitalization, scheduled for summer of 2019, will include improvements to First Avenue between Bridge and Cedar streets.

Improvements to downtown will include sidewalk reconstruction, stormwater piping, storm gardens with seating, benches, bike racks, landscaping, lighting, street trees, places for public art and pedestrian features.

The first phase of the project was originally scheduled for summer of 2017, but the only bid that came in was much higher than expected and rejected by council members.

In addition to the work on Cedar this summer, the sewer replacement along First Avenue will continue in August after the conclusion of Festival at Sandpoint. The sewer project began last year, running from just south of Lake Street to north of Church Street.

Beginning from where crews left off, this year's construction will extend up First, rounding the corner on Cedar and ending at Second Avenue. Traffic will be detoured during the construction, which is expected to conclude in November.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.