Downtown cityscape planning underway in Wadsworth

WADSWORTH — Planning is set to begin for a large-scale downtown utility replacement and streetscape improvement project. The work is part of the city's 2017 Downtown Visioning Plan with projects expected to include complete street replacements, installation of new water and electric lines, replacement of storm and sanitary sewers, possible widening of sidewalks and crosswalks, and new green infrastructure. City Service Director Robert Patrick said projects will encompass the downtown area with Lyman Street on the east, Pardee Street on the west, Boyer Street on the north and Mill Street on the south bordering the expected work zone. No costs or construction timetables have been determined but the city hopes to have at least some of that information within the next few months after paying a combined $50,000 to three private firms to map out work: Akron-based Osborn Engineering and H.R. Gray & Associates, Inc. as well as Cleveland's City Architecture, Inc. "There's still a lot of different paths that can be taken," Patrick said. "We really need to get certain things answered before we can begin to determine costs. There might be five different ways to carry out a certain part of the job. There will be plenty of discussions and find out what the community wants to see. Maybe we'll have two options at the end of the day and that will give us a much better idea of what to expect financially." Mayor Robin Laubaugh and other officials have emphasized that construction will aim to maintain the current aesthetic of downtown. "Our historic downtown has been experiencing a transformation with recent initiatives including new events, aesthetic improvements like the murals and flowers, and new business growth," she said. "This project will further grow the heart of our community and position its success for the next generation." A 2021 start date for initial work is being eyed but that timeline could be accelerated depending on feedback from project planners. The last downtown cityscape plan was drawn up 35 years ago. Patrick said residents should to expect a complete tear down and replacement of South Main, High, College, and Broad streets as well as possible work on smaller streets such as Pardee and Lyman. "It's really kind of precipitated by the underground utilities," he said. "Those utilities — water, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer — are getting up to almost 100 years old. Most likely, a lot of these streets are going to be torn up to replace those utilities. Then, you have to think about how you want to put the top foot back in there. You start thinking about whether this is the way you want the road to be aligned. Are there enough lanes or too many? How's the parking laid out? Where are the center medians and do we need them? "We'll examine how wide out sidewalks should be. Should there be other uses like outdoor cafes where we'd need more room? Should there be more seating areas and landscaping, maybe green infrastructure to help with storm retention? Then when you include traffic signals, lights, everything, it really becomes a streetscape project." Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at (330)721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.