Starkville is taking the next step to upgrade Main Street.
The board of aldermen approved a resolution Tuesday to engage North Carolina-based Kimley Horn, a planning and design engineering consultant company, for the purpose of the redesign and construction of Main Street from City Hall to include the Montgomery Street intersection.
Kimley Horn Landscape Architect Henry Minor presented a preliminary design to the board at its work session Oct. 15, which would prioritize the pedestrian experience and create more outdoor space, especially for businesses. This new resolution would employ Kimley Horn to create an official plan and construction documents for Main Street.
“The resolution says that they will go forward and develop a plan and get construction documents,” Mayor Lynn Spruill said.
Kimley Horn will work directly with city engineer Daniel Havelin while creating these designs. While Havelin will consult with all department heads and all members of the board will have an input on this project, he will be the main point of contact and liaison between the city and Kimley Horn.
For his time dedicated to this project and taking on additional responsibilities, Havelin will receive a pay increase with his salary totaling $78,000.
“As he works with Kimley Horn, I expect him to come back to us with fact-finding opportunities,” Spruill said.
The initial plan Minor presented showed Main Street compressed by 10 feet, eliminating turning lanes to allow for extended outdoor areas. Several parking spots downtown would also be removed.
Spruill said she believes it will be a positive enhancement to downtown, allowing for more residences, restaurants and businesses to expand. She said she has spoken with several business owners along Main Street and has received a majority approval of this development.
While the resolution passed unanimously, Ward 5 Alderman Hamp Beatty showed some reservation, saying he believes the city should fully research the best Main Street designs and potentially reach out to other college towns such as Tuscaloosa and Auburn to gain further insight on Main Street expansions. He also said he is concerned with the elimination of turning lanes and was specifically concerned that traffic could continuously be backed up.
“I don’t want to do something that will be a traffic nightmare, a bottleneck that we don’t want that maybe we couldn’t have foreseen, but we did it anyway,” Beatty said. “Now, we’ve got to go back in and spend a lot of money to try to alleviate the problem.”
Spruill said she did not intentionally ask Kimley Horn to remove 10 feet from the street but wanted to find opportunities for outdoor dining and activities downtown and believes Kimley Horn will find the best way to create the designs.
“The amount that was removed was what they thought would allow for that kind of space,” Spruill said. “If that creates any kind of issue, I’m sure Mr. Havelin with his expertise and (Kimley Horn’s) experience in traffic flow and study… will come back and tell us that and see if some modifications can be made.”
Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver questioned how this project would be funded. Spruill told The Dispatch in October the project would cost roughly $6 million.
Spruill said she already has a $1 million commitment from the Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority Board from its 2-percent sales tax money and plans to “hunt” for more funds. She also said the city could bond the project, potentially combining it with the construction of the Highway 182 construction plan which will begin soon.
“I’m going to go on the hunt for funds,” Spruill said. “I’ve got a commitment from OCEDA. I’m going to get in touch with other folks who received 2-percent money. Representative (Rob) Roberson said he may be able to get us some state funds to assist with this project… If this is something that we can get done, then I think we’ve got this opportunity for the development and the construction documents.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
Join the Discussion