City of Shelbyville Public Works Director Buck Vallad told Council Tuesday night that as a part of the ongoing Riverwalk project, he’s working toward making south Spring Street a pedestrian walk through. But some talking points had him wondering if Council was actually going to make that usage change after all.
The street, though closed for some time due to Grindstone Cowboy construction, was formally used for through traffic. The portion, now being considered for pedestrian-only, is south Spring Street from the corner in front of the entrance to Grindstone Cowboy back to a small portion of McGrew Street.
And all this obviously takes a lot of dollars. Vallad assured Council that there’s $1.1 million for paving and $80,000 for sidewalk work. He said there’s other line items within his public works budget that will cover concrete. He also has $250,000 to work with that Council approved for the Riverview District project.
Vallad told Council members that the street is not going to be permanently closed and will be reopened, when Grindstone opens. It is the City’s choice of usage from that point forward.
“Are we thinking this might not happen now?” Vallad asked Council. “Should I stop doing what I’m doing over there?” We’re doing a lot of work . . . point where it’s going to be one-way.”
It was agreed that a decision needed to be made fairly fast about the usage. Tuesday’s meeting was a study session, so the official vote will have to be taken at the regular Council meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 9.
Vallad said that he doesn’t want to get the cart before the horse but he doesn’t want to also get 6 months down the road and the plan change for public works. He was really looking for answers Tuesday night.
Attorney Ginger Shofner said the use of south Spring Street is an agenda item on the October City Planning Commission meeting.
Councilman Josh Blevins said Council shouldn’t wait to make that decision late in October, when the PC meets again.
When the issue of open container came up, most Council members agreed that’s a whole different decision to be made by Council. So that discussion was quickly tabled.
Vallad said his workers are trying to make sure that street is going to be a safe area for pedestrians heading down to the proposed river overlook. “You don’t need cars intermingling with a bunch of pedestrians . . . .”
He said that maybe he misunderstood the river walk concept. He said it was his thinking the $250,000 Council approved for the current project was to secure that pedestrian area.
“I’m a little bit in limbo on that,” said Vallad.
Mayor Randy Carroll asked about the direction of the said street and if it will eventually flow back to the Fly Arts Center parking area.
Vallad advised, “Eventually, it will go all the way back through. We have constraints because of the riverwalk and the overlook. That has to get constructed before we can do a lot of that.”
He said at this time, his goal is to get to at least to the end of the third building that the City has owned. “If we’re doing something different, please let me know sooner than later.”
Attorney Shofner said Council has “talked in generalities” about the street but they haven’t gone through legalities to get the street changed. She said she didn’t recall Council bringing up the road issue last month or anyone mentioning that it was a “rush.”
Vallad said he did.
Councilman Blevins said the reality is that the City is about a week away from that street being impassable for two-way traffic. He said a lot of work has been done thus far to make it one way.
Council person Betsy Noel said constituents have asked if the City is changing that street to assist the restaurants like Grindstone Cowboy. Noel further explained that the entertainment district has nothing to do with the fact that the street could become a pedestrian right-of-way. She stressed the change would be for safety reasons.                                                                                                               Councilman  Henry Feldhaus said he believes a Spring Street usage change has everything to do with the entertainment district. “The vision, the drawings that have been on the table for 5, 6, 7, 8 years . . . .?”
He said many businesses, like Glass Hollow Restaurant, located at 123 South Side Public Square, bought into those kinds of plans before opening. Council members Blevins and Noel were not serving on Council when the initial plans for the Riverwalk District were approved.
Feldhaus, who was involved in the outset, clarified, “There’s been zero conversation that the City Council needed to formally close or change the use of that street, ever, that I’ve heard, until now we’re getting ready to open . . . spent a million dollars trying to get it ready.”
He added, “All of a sudden, somebody wants to say we’re getting the cart before the horse, whatever.”
Councilman Feldhaus said the original plan/design needs to move on. Still, he said some people may have to literally walk on it before they see the Riverview vision.
Referring to changing Spring Street usage, Feldhaus commented, “I used to drive it every day,” said Feldhaus. “I haven’t missed it.”
Councilman William Christie said the Riverview District plan is to improve community tourism and help the City grow. “My opinion is that we just proceed.”
Feldhaus said the Duck River is an “unexploited asset” of the City of Shelbyville. “We can bring tourism dollars here, i.e., keep our taxes from going up on us.”
Vallad said he hopes that the $250,000 from the City will allow the street work to get past that third building off Spring Street. But he’s not sure. He said things like street lighting costs have to be considered in dollars available as well.
He said he might have to come back to Council for more funding. Vallad added that weather dictates when concrete can be poured and as well, costs can change.
City Manager Scott Collins said on that note to keep in mind that Council should know by Oct. 15 about a downtown improvement grant award.
Referring again to south Spring Street, Vallad advised, “It’s still a public right-of-way. That does not change. What changes-if a vehicle can go on it or if it’s just for pedestrians. With a public right-of-way anybody can go in there . . . pedestrian right-of-way for the citizens of Shelbyville.”
The change of usage of south Spring Street is scheduled to be on next week’s meeting agenda, the mayor confirmed Thursday.