By Thane Grauel
WESTPORT — A plan to spend $400,000 in federal pandemic relief money to redesign three downtown parking lots was approved Wednesday by the Board of Finance.
The parking lot funding wasn’t the largest appropriation of the evening, but the projects are likely to have a major impact on how downtown looks and flows for years to come.
The appropriation, using some of the $8.4 million the federal government is sending Westport’s way through the American Rescue Plan Act, will fund the planning, redesign and permitting process for Parker Harding Plaza, Jesup Green lot and Imperial Avenue lot.
Redesign sets the stage for broader plans
Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich told the board that the appropriation combines several line items from the town’s capital forecast “to get a conceptual plan that’s consistent in the entire downtown area.”
“Parker Harding and Jesup Green are sort of contiguous, the Imperial lot is not, but we wanted to hire a firm that, whatever plan we come up with for revitalizing downtown, is consistent from location to location, as far as theme and just basic design parameters.”
After designs are completed, construction will be funded later and is now roughly estimated at $3.7 million. Work will be implemented in phases because, Ratkiewich said, downtown needs parking, so one lot will be reconstructed at a time.
Parker Harding would come first, he said, followed by Jesup and then Imperial. He hopes to begin work in spring 2023.
Planning for green areas, footbridge?
The Downtown Plan Implementation Committee has been discussing a new vision for the Parker Harding, Jesup and Imperial Avenue lots, including the areas bordering the Saugatuck River.
Committee discussions have mentioned a desire to increase green areas along the river without sacrificing too many parking spaces, and possibly create a walkable loop across the river with the addition of a footbridge from the Gorham Island to the west bank.
A cantilevered walkway over the water to provide more green space along Parker Harding also has been discussed.
Ratkiewich said four qualified bidders submitted design proposals and the chosen bidder, Langan Engineering, was not the lowest.
But, he said, the firm had the most experience in Westport, working with the town and commercial clients. The firm has established relationships with many downtown property owners, he said, which will be helpful when working with the various stakeholders.
“They’ve been working in the downtown probably the last 15, 20 years,” Ratkiewich said.
Board member Nancy Dupier asked how the firm had performed for the town in the past.
Ratkiewich said Langan designed the overhaul of the Baldwin parking lot, off Elm Street, which will soon begin, and that cost less than the appropriation.
Private input, funding sought
Board Chairwoman Sheri Gordon asked First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker about the possibility of public-private partnerships.
“This part of the process we are willing to fund,” Tooker said, “but going forward we are absolutely expecting public-private partnership.”
Ratkiewich said the footbridge across the river is a good example of where private funding would be critical.
“That’s a very expensive bridge, and it’s not going to carry cars,” he said. “That would be one aspect we would definitely look for partnership on, and certainly other elements in the downtown area, there will be opportunities as the design evolves.”
Ratkiewich said the consultant will be asked to find such opportunities.
“Sounds like a great naming opportunity for a Westport family,” said board member Lee Caney.
Board member Brian Stern noted the redesigns involve more than just a parking lot overhaul.
“This is a design project that will change the face of downtown,” he said. “I really hope it’s successful.”
“This is very exciting,” said Randy Herbertson, chairman of the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee. He called the plan “holistic” and was pleased that Langan had been chosen.
The Representative Town Meeting will have final say on the $400,000 appropriation. The contract with Langan then will need approval of the Board of Selectwomen.
Ratkiewich said after the meeting that Langan will look at ideas from the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee, and also seek other input in various ways.
“Including, but not limited to, actual engaging with the people in the downtown as they’re downtown, while they’re walking around down there,” he said.
I wish the money would be spend on sidewalks for the rest of the town.
So do I. Sidewalks need to be prioritized throughout the town, not just the downtown.
This sounds like the “plan to get a plan’ fiasco from a few years ago. Don’t they have the plans from the previous implementation committee? but hey it’s only the government’s money so who cares, I don’t, just sounds funny when you hear the same stuff for 50 years..lol the walking bridge over the river.. bla bla bla
ARPA is not just for sidewalks. I do not understand why residents would even think that it’s set aside for just that. At almost a $1 million for each mile made, who will maintain them? Residents? Public works cannot maintain a large inventory of sidewalks like that at 16-18 employees.
Sidewalks are a, “trending” fad in this town for newcomers and something for people to campaign on. It’s desperate.
You want sidewalks everywhere? Move to a city. The towns roads cannot all manage to have sidewalks. It’s impossible. Roadways are extremely limited in width.