The Chelsea Downtown Development Authority (DDA) unanimously approved $4,800 for Deardorff Design Resources and Lincoln Poley Architects to prepare three concept designs for the “proposed buildings, vehicular circulation and parking and pedestrian linkages” for the Longworth property and surrounding area.
Among the concepts is linking the lower area along Jackson Street with the alley on the south off Middle Street that serves the businesses along Main Street, the nearby church and “the future Longworth development.”
According to the proposal, this connection should include both vehicular traffic and pedestrian access.”
“I’ve had some good discussions with a couple of developers,” (about the property) said DDA Board Member Mark Heydlauff said Thursday morning.
And following the vote he said these concept designs “will be helpful,” for the DDA to make some decisions before the winter. In addition, the DDA plans to hold several work sessions about the project in the next few months.
The DDA also unanimously agreed to direct City Manager John Hanifan to gets bids for the demolition of the Livery Building to help with the marking plan for the area.
In an issue related to the area, Hanifan told the DDA that the Norfolk-Southern Railroad had contacted him about a permanent solution to blocking pedestrians from crossing the railroad tracks near The Depot.
He said that the railroad would block off the tracks perhaps “by dropping off a bunch of railroad ties” if the city didn’t come up with its own plan, and suggested that the DDA look into decorative fencing for one or both sides of the railroad tracks.
It was suggested that the DDA work with the Depot Association and the railroad to get designs and pricing for decorative fencing for the area between The Depot and the Clocktower complex.
