Belleville DDA to get more information on shade for 4th St. Square

After hearing that the recommended shade structure for the Fourth Street Square would cost from $50,000 to $100,000, the Belleville Downtown Development Authority decided to wait on a decision until more information is presented.
At its July 19 meeting, the DDA heard Jennifer Smith of Penchura LLC of Brighton give a presentation on her recommendation for the Fourth Street Square.
She said DDA Coordinator Carol Thompson had said the DDA was looking at creating shade over the Fourth Street Square and in the past tents had been erected there for a winter ball and St. Patrick’s Day event.
She said in studying the square, she finds planter boxes with trees and lamp posts and she finds the installation will be more expensive then the shade itself.
She said she recommends a structure that is left up year-round. The supports will be three feet wide and 15 feet deep and will have a hefty installation cost.
Although the DDA had been impressed with pictures of the colorful fabric shades that Thompson had presented at its April 19 meeting, Smith said, “Fabric may not be what you want” because it has to be taken down each winter and replaced about every ten years.
She recommended a steel structure which would be more permanent with a wood awning. She suggested the right structure would be more like a $100,000 project.
She said they would have to rent heavy equipment for the installation, which would include providing a plywood blanket over existing decorative pavers and sidewalk to protect them from being disturbed by the heavy equipment.
Brick pavers would have to be removed at four locations and the pavers would have to be custom-cut to be reset around the four posts. They would auger holes and provide four 36” x 15’ steel reinforced concrete footings and haul the spoils off-site.
Jeff Vernon asked from the audience if this would be enclosed in the future and Smith said it was intended to be open-air.
When Thompson asked if they could move the light posts, Smith said she would leave the light posts where they are.
“There will be a lot of intense labor because of how nice it is,” Smith said of the square. “I give you your options. A permanent structure is better.”
Thompson said the Central Business Community’s farmers’ market that just started every other Monday on the square has been “toasting” in the bright sunlight. She said the DDA was looking at a $10,000 grant.
Thompson noted that DTE has an electrical box on the square.
“We have to see if this is even conceivable,” said DDA chairwoman Rosemary Loria.
Smith said a standard gable structure or a steel structure would be the same cost as a fabric shade, which you have to replace every ten years.
Smith said her background is in design and she finds the square so “nicely done.”
“I’m not comfortable with what I’ve recommended,” Smith said.
“Chopping up properties we paid to make nice? No, we’re not tearing up the square,” stated DDA treasurer Sabrina Richardson Williams.
Smith said they could bring the cost down to $50,000.
“There are a lot of things to be aware of,” she said, asking for more time to come up with a different recommendation.
Thompson said the CBC was willing to share in the cost of the project and CBC president Bill Wolters and CBC treasurer Bob Stoner were in the audience for the discussion.
In other business at the 45-minute meeting the DDA:
• Approved a $1,000 community programming grant each for: National Strawberry Festival, Belleville Area Council for the Arts – Music Lakeside, Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce – Winter Fest, and Belleville Area Museum – Harvest Fest and BOOVILLE and holiday programming. (The current DDA budget has yet to be brought before the DDA board for approval.);
• Heard a report from Thompson on the damaged ADA access to the kayak launch in Horizon Park. She said the ADA support and the bench are missing and, “We are guessing it’s at the bottom of the lake.” She said Building Official Rick Rutherford is looking to see if the city can repair the equipment and limp through the rest of the season. Thompson said the city and DDA got a state grant for the launch and pledged they would maintain it, “So we’ve GOT to do it.” Chairwoman Loria suggested a PR campaign to let people know how wonderful the handicapped-accessible launch is and Thompson said, “We’ll see what we can do”;
• Discussed a report Thompson had drawn up on the storm water ponds in Victoria Commons. Kelly Bates, president of the Victoria Commons Homeowners Association said her group was interested in partnering in the cost of fountain replacements, instead of the DDA replacing non-working fountains with bubblers. She said she has not be contacted on this offer. Thompson said the DDA voted to replace fountains as they broke with diffusers. She said a fountain cost was $6,600 five or six years ago. Two bubblers cost $3,200. “I imagine the city would welcome Victoria Commons spending its money on this,” said treasurer Williams, who also lives in Victoria Commons. She said the DDA was not spending money for the beauty, but for keeping the water running;
• Heard Bates say she asked that the weed-filled planters in Village Park be either removed or planted and she is disappointed that they decided to remove them. She noted she also has mentioned in the past that there is only one trash can along the paths in Village Park and people who walk their pets have to carry the bag they fill because there are no trash cans along the way;
• Approved accounts payable of $29,437.80 for two months, since the DDA did not meet in June.