Title
New Lighting and Sidewalks near St. Charles Condominiums (NB)
Explanation
St. Charles Condominiums, a new multi-family residential development located on the corner of Northwest 3rd Avenue and Northwest 14th Street in College Park, is currently under construction. Construction of this redevelopment project has been identified as an opportunity to further eradicate blight by targeting new pedestrian lighting and sidewalks to areas experiencing private redevelopment to help leverage the funds used. College Parks University Heights (CPUH) has used this strategy successfully on Northwest 12th Terrace, and has also targeted Southwest 5th Avenue for such improvements.
Improvements recommended for this location include the installation of pedestrian scale lighting and new sidewalks.
GRU has provided a preliminary estimate of $11,184 for installing three Domus light fixtures (one light fixture mid-block on Northwest 14th Street, one light fixture at the corner of Northwest 3rd Avenue and Northwest 14th Street, and one additional light fixture at the east property line on Southwest 3rd Avenue), including undergrounding the power lines. The estimate also includes removal of a wooden pole on the west side of the property.
Although the addition of a new sidewalk on the south side of Northwest 3rd Avenue is recommended to be included in this project, a cost estimate for constructing the sidewalk is not available at this time. Staff recommends that the sidewalk piece be brought before the Board in June, in conjunction with other upcoming sidewalk requests.
Fiscal Note
GRU has estimated $11,184 for the installation of the pedestrian scale lighting. There is $20,497.67 remaining uncommitted in the Northwest 17th Street Streetscape account MY-618-790-W709-5520 that could be used for this project.
Recommendation
College Parks University Heights Redevelopment Advisory Board to the CRA: 1) Direct staff to move forward with installing the lighting and obtaining cost estimates for installing a new sidewalk on Northwest 3rd Avenue; and 2) create a not to exceed budget of $11,184 for lighting along Northwest 3rd Avenue and Northwest 14th Street.