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Consider Approving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for Downtown Projects.
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Staff:
Department:
Dwight Bassett, Director
Economic Development and Parking Services
Overview:
We ask Council to approve the items below so we can begin the work as quickly as possible. The Downtown Partnership desires to proceed with the RFP to select a company to implement the Clean and Green program so that it can be operational in the coming months. We want to begin the mobility planning as phase one and the streetscape enhancement plan as phase two of a process to help guide conversations about how we use Franklin Street. Successfully implementing Downtown Together and making downtown improvements will help us move our revitalization forward and implement this plan.
1. Streetscape Enhancement Mobility Plan ($500,000): This plan will create an opportunity to collect feedback from the residents, property owners, and business owners on their interests in how to create a street that makes it safer for pedestrians, more inviting outdoor dining and makes it the most beautiful street in North Carolina. It will also provide an actionable plan for landscaping and design.
2. Clean & Green ($300,000): The funding will allow us to create a two-year project for a two-member ambassador team that will help us keep downtown clean as our pedestrian foot traffic increases and will have two ambassadors on the street able to help visitors find a place to eat, or answer a question about how to get to campus.
3. Old Town Hall Planning ($50,000): The Old Town Hall building is currently in poor condition, but with the approved hotel building coming and the park space with it, the Town needs to have a plan for repairing the building so a new public user can come in, activate the park, and create a great public use in the building.
4. Peace & Justice Plaza Planning ($50,000): Peace & Justice Plaza is the most important civic site in town. It is the place we memorialize our local h...
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