(spring 2008 site photo, before new BPP was complete)
Two major updates on the Morgan Junction park site immediately north of the new Beveridge Place Pub location — the latest timeline, and an art project proposed for the sidewalk at the site. The updates came from Parks Department and Transportation Department reps who appeared at last week’s Morgan Community Association meeting – read on for the details:
The last public meeting about the Morgan Junction park site was in March (WSB coverage here); at the time, project manager Virginia Hassinger had said the “preferred design” would cost more than the original budget. Since then, the department announced in June that the overage had been covered. So now – remaining issues include, when will the park be completed?
Hassinger was at the MoCA meeting with that answer: She says bids for the work are due next week (October 29). After that part of the process is over, she says, “it’ll take six or eight weeks to get started for construction,” which means work should begin in December, and be completed in early spring (late March/early April). Here’s another look at the final design approved earlier this year:
SDOT is paying for sidewalk improvements along almost 100 feet of site frontage, Hassinger said, and SDOT rep Liz Ellis was at the meeting to talk about that, as well as an art project that’s now included in the deal.
The project involves picture-frame-type shapes stamped into the sidewalk, with a surface that anyone can use to create art. Project coordinator Jason Huff explained it would “create more of an interesting pedestrian experience.” The project apparently was first scheduled for sites in Magnolia and the Central District, but that didn’t work out, so now this is being considered as a prime site, and a second site somewhere else in the city is still being sought.
The sidewalk work, including the art, may not be done until after the major portion of the park construction, but that hasn’t been settled yet.
“This wasn’t part of our original design, but we have the opportunity to bring these in” for no extra cost, Hassinger added, given that this art project already has been funded by a different city department. MoCA’s Cindi Barker asked for the cost figure just the same, wary that perhaps the project could be tarred with a label such as “home of the XXX-dollar sidewalk art,” but the city reps said it was a “small budget,” low five figures, from the Arts and Cultural Affairs department. The firm that’s been signed up for the projct is Sutton Beres Culler (website here).
MoCA members then voted to officially accept the “gift” of an unexpected art project for the park and its sidewalk. After that, Ellis had one other sidewalk note – the recent repairs along California SW totaled 3,700 square feet of sidewalk (in the 5200, 5600, 6601 blocks).
The official website for the Morgan Junction park project is here; Morgan Community Association’s website is here; their meetings are held quarterly, so the next one is expected in January.
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