Lorain Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project Begins

Plans are finally turning into action! It’s time to BUILD IT! The Lorain Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project will prove to be truly transformational for our “downtown.” Stretching from roughly West 165th Street all the way to Fairview Hospital, the project will continue the renaissance of Kamm’s Corners.

A gala ground-breaking took place on Thursday, November 6th, 2008, featuring Fairview Hospital COO Frank Mills, Ward 21 Councilman Marting Keane, and Mayor Frank Jackson. (See photo below.)

Concrete work will continue on the Northwest and Northeast Quadrants, and will soon encompass the Southwest Quadrant. Plans call for the concrete work to be complete on those quadrants in time for the Kiwanis Independence Day Parade.

After the parade, work will proceed to the Southeast Quadrant. Next, the poles will be removed throughout the project area, and new historic lighting and traffic mast arms will be installed in their place.

Lastly, the street trees and other landscaping details will be installed in the planters after the intense summer heat begins to subside.

The expected completion time is fall of 2009.

The artwork below illustrates the improvements, which include:

1. New sidewalks, with decorative granite blocks and a charcoal colored paver strip at the curbs.
2. New irrigated planter boxes that will also allow for seating. Many of the planters will have electric outlets for lighting of the street trees.
3. New, more compact, yet airy, street trees.
4. New benches, bike racks, and waste receptacles.
5. Removal of all telephone poles and associated overhead wiring!
6. Installation of retro-style “tear drop” light poles with upswept arms.
7. New upswept traffic light mast arms.
8. Public Art!

Other components include:

1. Retention of the angle parking to keep as much parking as possible.
2. Retention of our wide sidewalks to encourage al fresco dining.
3. A new crosswalk at Kamm’s Plaza’s western entrance with a small concrete island in the middle of the road.
4. Re-configuration of the Lorain side of the Shell Station driveways, eliminating one, and moving the remaining one farther from the intersection at Rocky River Drive.

The Lorain Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project will further energize and accelerate the continued improvement of the Kamm’s Corners neighborhood. Already, this substantial public investment is drawing new businesses, residents, and visitors to the neighborhood and is enhancing property values for those already here. Welcome to our future!

Groundbreaking took place on Thursday, November 6th, 2008.