The Chelsea Downtown Development Authority will discuss concept designs for the Longworth corridor during a special work session scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 a.m. at the new police station.
Chelsea City Manager John Hanifan said that Howard Deardorff, who is working on several concept drawings for the corridor, would have them ready in a couple weeks. He suggested that the DDA schedule a work session to review and discuss them, and the board agreed.
DDA Treasurer Mark Heydlauff said that he is “staying in touch with interested parties” and is awaiting the new concept drawings to keep the process moving forward, while Hanifan said he will have estimates for demolishing the Livery Building and the adjacent lean-to buildings at the next meeting as well.
Hanifan also told the DDA board that he had obtained two quotes for fencing to block pedestrians from illegally crossing the railroad tracks between Jackson Street and the Clocktower complex.
With future plans to have high-speed rail going through the area, railroad officials recently informed the city that there needed to be barriers in the area where pedestrians frequently cross the tracks. Hanifan told the board that he had obtained quotes for both decorative and chain-link fencing.
He said decorative fencing would cost about $24,000 for the about 700 lineal feet — about 400 lineal feet on one side and about 300 feet on the other side of the tracks. The cost for treated chain link fence would be about $18,000.
He also reminded DDA members that this expense is not included in this year’s budget, but Hanifan said he would speak to railroad officials to determine a time frame for installing the barriers.
In other business, the DDA may occasionally take its monthly meeting on the road following a suggestion by Chairman Peter Flintoft. He asked the board to think about having meetings at different locations in town. Perhaps McKinley will have space, Flintoft said, saying that it would be nice to showcase some of the downtown architecture since the meetings are videotaped and shown on the local access channel.
If the DDA plans to move its meeting from the new police station building, there would be at least 30 days notice so those who wish to attend have plenty of advance warning of the new location.
Bob Pierce, executive director of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce, announced that Howdy Holmes was recently presented with the “Ambassador Award” by the Ann Arbor Area Visitors & Convention Bureau, and that more than 200 “tourism professionals” will soon be in the area during a “Michigan Cares for Tourism” event.
The best thing for the DDA to do is to hold meetings at a time when people can attend. I realize the meeting is set for the convenience of the DDA members. However, most people are either on their way to work or getting children ready for school. The location is not the issue for most people–it is the time at which the meetings are held. The DDA has approximately .5 million dollars annually, and the Council claims it has no oversight of the DDA. At least the appearance of caring about what the residents in Chelsea think would be helpful to the DDA.