By JONATHAN SNYDER
Alleyway renovations in downtown Bluffton will be going vertical in the next few weeks, with some alleys expected to be completed in early to mid-March.
The Downtown Pathways Project broke ground in October with the goal of creating an inviting, walkable connection between the Market Street corridor and public parking lots downtown. According to the Bluffton NOW! website, the project’s budget was $914,000.
The project will renovate five alleys downtown in two phases. The first phase focuses on physical improvements to three alleys — the first alley connecting a section next to American Salvage in the North 100 block of West Perry and West Market streets, the second alley in the North 200 block of West Market Street, and the third alley in the North 100 block of West Washington Street, next to The American Legion. The alleys are referred to as Alley One, Alley Two and Alley Four, respectively.
Phase One of the project is about 60% complete, said Mike Lautzenheiser, Bluffton NOW! board president. Alley One and Alley Two’s concrete work is done, with light posts and entry signs expected to be installed next week for Alley One.
Design panels have been installed, but not painted, in Alley Two. These panels will have different designs of wood, metal and foliage.
Concrete work has not been completed in Alley Four, but the above-ground work is expected to begin in the upcoming weeks.
“A lot of it is ready to really get going as far as the lighting and ground improvements,” Lautzenheiser said. “With good weather, the next couple of weeks are going to be very, very busy.”
Alley Four’s work has seen its fair share of snags, however, with various underground items unable to be detected properly. Gas lines and coal chutes could not be marked properly, leading to some delays. Austin Conrad, the project manager with FCI Construction, stated that the utilities they ran into are older and not in use, so no one knew they were there.
“(They are) skeletons of the past, especially in the smaller towns where these kinds of things are done on a handshake,” Conrad said. “And so you don’t necessarily have documentation of where a sanitary line runs or where a power line runs.”
Despite the struggles, Conrad has stated that the support from the Legion, Bluffton NOW! and the community has been instrumental in keeping the project going.
“The Legion has been great, Bluffton NOW! has been great to collaborate with, but that one (alley) has definitely presented challenges for sure,” Conrad said. “Couldn’t be a better partner, Bluffton NOW! It’s been really nice working with them and the surrounding businesses that are impacted by (the project). Whenever we’ve needed something, they’ve leaned into providing a solution and not a roadblock.”
Phase Two of the project will renovate two other alleys, one on the South 200 Block of West Market Street, and the North 100 block of East Market Street. Additionally, art pieces and additional amenities will be added to all the alleys. While the design and look of the alleys have not officially been determined, Lautzenheiser stated that Bluffton NOW! is working with building owners to determine themes and concepts for the alleys.
Bluffton NOW! is still taking donations for the project on their website. Their website states that an extra $260,000 is needed to complete phase two, but there are a few opportunities for matching funds and other tools that Bluffton NOW! is looking to utilize.
jonathan@news-banner.com
