BEDFORD — The City of Bedford was the sponsor of the September meeting of the Lawrence County Homebuilders on Sept. 11 at the American Legion Gillen Post meeting room. The city, through Marla Jones the city’s business and community development director, took the opportunity to update the members on the progress of many of the Stellar Communities projects.

Jones said the scope of the work is broken into four categories depending on the main funding source — Indiana Department of Transportation; Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs; Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and locally funded projects through the City of Bedford.

Indiana Department of Transportation

• Depot relocation and rehabilitation project: The project included the relocation of the old Milwaukee (former Southern Indiana Railroad) depot from its location between I and J streets north of 11th St. to the southwest corner of 14 and J streets. The move to the new location was completed in May of 2016.

The building was then rehabilitated to its former state, including original paint scheme. A plaza-like setting was created with brick pavers, green space, plantings and parking area around the depot. A ribbon cutting was held for the new Downtown Depot on May 18, 2017, and the building has been used for several public events.
Jones said the city is currently working with trail folks to secure their office space in the building. The depot is available for rent for community events and other gatherings.

• Downtown Streetscape and J Street Trail: The Downtown Streetscape project includes work to all four sides of the courthouse square in downtown Bedford and the first segment of the J Street Trail. The streetscape is planned to enhance accessibility and safety and create public spaces in the downtown area.

The project began near the Downtown Depot and then skipped the west side of the square and went to the first block south of the square along J Street. The west side was skipped to allow for the BBQ at the Quarry and other Fourth of July activities to take place. The work then resumed along the west side. Currently the south half of the east side of the square is being worked on as well. The north and south sides of the square will be worked on at a later time. The city requested the J Street portion of the work, from 14th Street to 17th Street be completed by Oct. 7, 2017, to facilitate the Bedford Half Marathon. The entire scope of the project is to be completed by July 1, 2018.

• The L Street/Lincoln Avenue Trail Connector: The establishment of an urban trail system was one of the top-ranking priorities identified in the City of Bedford Comprehensive Plan. The Limestone Trail System is a comprehensive trail plan developed for the city by Indiana University SPEA students.

The Limestone Trail system will develop a trail connector between downtown Bedford and the Milwaukee Trail via use of L St./Lincoln Ave. The connector is being constructed over existing city right-of-way. Bids for the project should be let in November 2017, with construction to begin in the Spring of 2018. Estimated completion is June of 2019.

Office of Community and Rural Affairs

• StoneGate Arts and Education Center: The plan originally called for the rehabilitation of the former JCPenney building on the northwest corner of the downtown square, but rehabilitation proved not to be feasible, so the building was raised. Construction of a new three-story building is planned on the site. Estimated completion of this project in June 2018.

• Downtown Facade Project: The next project to get underway is the Downtown Facade Project. Bid letting will be in November with construction to start in the Spring.

Indiana Housing and Community Development

Stonecutter Apartments/Senior Housing: The project converted existing building space one block west of the downtown square for senior housing. This project is complete and came in $212,102 lower than the projected budget. The building is currently operating at capacity with all 30 units occupied.

This was a partnership between the City of Bedford and Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corp.

Indiana Housing and Community Development will also provide partial funding for the facade project

City of Bedford

• Courthouse Grounds: The City of Bedford and Lawrence County worked together to make the courthouse grounds more accessible with new sidewalks and new parking configurations. The work also helped to facilitate the public entrance of the courthouse to the north side of the building. The project was completed in December of 2015.

• Harp Commons and Maiden Lane: Harp Commons on the west side of the courthouse square has undergone a renovation and expansion project that allows it to be used for community events and gatherings. The original commons has been expanded with the purchase of a pole barn building at the rear of the lot, which allowed for the construction of a permanent stage area. The main portion of the project was completed in June of 2016, with streetscape improvements to be completed by Oct. 7.

• Murals: The project was designed to create downtown enhancement through art. One mural was completed in 2015 at the corner of 16th and H streets (the east wall of the Times-Mail). Other sites are being surveyed for additional downtown artwork.

• Limestone Gateways: Two locations on 16th Street have been identified as sites for Limestone Gateways to the City of Bedford. The city is working with Indiana University students to design the gateways through its Sustainable Hoosier Communities pilot program. Bedford Revitalization, Inc. (Indiana Main Street member) will meet with students to determine the best gateway design for Bedford.
© 2024 TMNews.com, Bedford, IN.