Downtown revitalization plan approved
Humboldt City Administrator Travis Goedken explains a couple of details regarding the downtown streetscape project being considered by the Humboldt City Council. The Council answered 17 questions about the project and directed Nick Buse with ISG, the city’s civil engineering firm, to proceed with plans.
By KENT THOMPSON
After months of discussion and three public/stakeholder meetings, the Humboldt City Council had ample information regarding downtown revitalization to mull over.
ISG, the city’s civil engineering firm, provided the Council with an extensive report on the public feedback to its preliminary design plans, which were presented and discussed at three meetings during the past month.
Here is a summation of what the Humboldt City Council said they wanted to see in a project.
• All in favor of stop signs vs. traffic signal lights.
• All in favor of four-way stops at all downtown intersections (8th Street to 5th Street).
• Yes to intersection bumpouts with as small a footprint as possible.
• No to any mid block bumpouts.
• No to trees in the sidewalks.
• Agreed to take down present metal awnings and repair the façade behind the awnings at city expense. Also to make matching facade grant dollars available for awning/canopy repair or replacement.
• Yes to colored concrete in crosswalks and in intervals of 50 feet along the sidewalks. No to stamped concrete.
• The Council agreed to investigate the possibility of shorter decorative lights for the downtown, provided that they can meet DOT traffic lighting standards. A light study will be commissioned.
• No repurposing of existing street lamp bases if not utilized for new design.
• Install biocells for storm water drainage at bumpouts.
• Look at mid block storm water intakes in the 600 block of Sumner Avenue.
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