The city plans to create a new “downtown gateway” at the western end of Memorial Boulevard to let travelers know they’ve made it to the city center.
“You want some sort of arrival, that you’ve arrived downtown,” said Jonathan Rosenthal, the director of the Bristol Development Authority.
The city is shelling out $5,000 to Beta Group, the consultant that came up with Main Street streetscape overhaul plan, to come up with concepts for the proposed gateway.
Ray Rogozinski, an assistant city engineer, said there will be two or three alternatives for officials to pick the one they like best.
Rosenthal said the gateway proposal initiated with the Bristol Downtown Development Corp., which is overseeing the revitalization of the 17-acre mall site.
Frank Johnson, who heads the downtown development effort, said the BDDC wants to see improvements made downtown whenever possible “in order to send a positive signal to residents and to send positive signals to the development community” that Bristol is eager for progress.
Johnson said he wasn’t sure what the gateway proposal is focused on, but the nonprofit he heads is interested in making sure people “know they’re approaching downtown” when they come in to the city center.
Rosenthal said the first gateway would be placed somewhere near the Tinty’s Furniture Store on the western end of the Boulevard.
But, he said, there’s probably a need to have other downtown gateways, particularly one on Riverside Avenue.
The goal, Rosenthal said, is to send a clear message that “you’re there now.”
The City Council and BDA approved the spending without much dissent.
But city Councilor Ken Cockayne voted against it.
He said he doesn’t have a particular problem with the gateway concept but doesn’t like the Main Street streetscape plan as a whole because it doesn’t include angled parking.
Cockayne said that others are pressing to do it quickly to make sure the funding’s still available
But, he said, he would prefer to “do it right the first time.”
Rosenthal said that the downtown corporation would pick which design to pursue when Beta Group finishes up the concepts.
“It really is the BDDC’s baby,” Rosenthal said.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
19 comments:
Before they start the streetscape on Main street, they should repair the deteriorating conditions on the streetscape on North Main street.
Like the "Bridge to Nowhere", another political boondoggle.
Where was "stop the spending" Rimcoski?
Good ole Ward spending more money.
Route 6 already has its Gateway: a traffic jam!
Good ole naysayers whining and moaning as usual.
Put a meth clinic make a perfect gate way. Bristol is finished.
THE STATE THINKS BRISTOL IS A JOKE. THEY ARE ON TRACK.
They want to do a parking study BEFORE they find out what is going on the MALL site, the Armory Police Court, etc etc.
All to mollify a few people at the Chamber
Here it comes...
An arch with some flowers and bark mulch with some garish "water feature" next to the corner with a stop light.
At the corner, a 24 hour drug store with a drive-thru with complimentary blinking sign advertising the special sales.
Congratulations! You have navigated traffic and stop signs to get to...McDonalds!
you're free to take your sorry asses elsewhere.
BUH-BYE!
July 22, 2009 4:22 PM
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merely pay the penalty ( when selling ) being imposed for being foolish enough to purchase property in this poop hole called Bristol .
Hey ...... isn't the Wardie missle test site across from city hall enough of a message that you have finally reached the heart of Bristol ?
"this poop hole called Bristol."
Oh, so your name is Bristol? Makes sense to me!
Ward and Rosenthal: a pair that beats----
Isn't Forestville the gateway into town or if it's not located in downtown Bristol- no one or nothing else matters? I think it's time they started looking at Forestville Center, at one time it was busy place...maybe they should switch directions...We are suppose to be part of Bristol, right?
FIVE THOUSAND (taxpayer) DOLLARS for ideas?
C'mon, give us a break!
Will it/they be anything like the Gateway to the Industrial Park?
How about another Johnson/Walgrens?
Just how much has the city spent in propping up the "Lead Penny, Jakes" , and whatever else those retaurants have been called?
Enough is enough!
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