Watertown Reconstruction Task Force | Leadership Breakfast 9.8.21

Faculty, staff, and studentsofԭ were joined by members of the Watertown business communityto learn about the Downtown Main Street Reconstruction Task Force.Fivemembers of the Task Force were also in attendance.

After a delightful breakfast, Steve Board, Director of Development at ԭ, opened the Leadership Breakfast with prayer and a few announcements about the upcomingevents.He gave the floor to Alex Allon, Watertown’s Strategic Initiatives and Development Coordinator. Allon was joined byWatertown Mayor Emily McFarland and Laurie Hoffmann,thecitizen-at-large memberofthe Task Force.

The Task Force Process

Allon elaborated on the current issues with the Main Street construction which includes an aging undergroundinfrastructureand road surface.Main Street’s last improvements were in1967andtheutilities, road surface, and amenitiesneedan upgrade.

To undertake the challenging project, the city put together a Task Force that includes city and state staff, elected officials, downtown organizations, and members from the business community.The Task Force assembled an initialrecommended planand nowwelcome feedback from the community;presenting atthe Leadership Breakfast was the first step ingatheringthat feedback.

Allon explained the Task Force’sthree-pronged approach:

  • Envisioning process and recommendations
  • Community engagement and feedback and revisions
  • Hearing business needs and providing support

The Task Force established a process of reimagining Main Street which starts with establishing the overarching project goals, then moves to creating a set of wants andneeds,andends with evaluating and ranking the wants and needs based on conformity to project goals.

There are five criteria the Task Force used in evaluating their recommendations:

  • High-quality design
  • Pedestrian-friendly
  • Retail and commercial oriented
  • Universal accessibility and improved ADA compliance
  • Forward-looking yet responsive and sensitive to the history of Main Street

Allon then recognized Laurie Hoffmann who sharedtherecommendationsfor reconstructing Main Streetinthree ways:aesthetics, infrastructure, andpedestrian-oriented projects.

Main Street Recommendations

Hoffmann presented seven recommendations from the Task Force foraestheticimprovement:

An example of a parklet

  • Install and update current murals
  • Add art and sculptures on sidewalks
  • Install pedestrian-levelflowerpots
  • Install well-designed trash receptacles
  • Create a strategic plan for “vistas” on Main Street
  • Install Main Street entrance feature
  • Install permanent “parklet” and “pedlets” on Main Street

    An example of a pedlet

She presented eight recommendations for the infrastructure:

  • Update and upgrade utilities throughout construction
  • Conduct evaluation study of parking on Main Street
  • Install infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations
  • Install traffic lights thatallowpedestrians to stop traffic
  • Improve design of traffic lights
  • Installtaller lampposts
  • Install infrastructure to accommodate 5G on light poles
  • UnderlightingCole Bridge

The last aspect that Hoffmann presented was eight pedestrian-oriented recommendations:

  • Wider sidewalks
  • Create meeting spaces
  • Install well-designed seating at pedestrian-friendly intervals
  • Install well-designed wayfinding signage
  • Install curb bump-outs to improve traffic calming measures
  • Relocate crosswalks for improved pedestrian flow and safety
  • Incorporate features for the blind and deaf into crosswalks
  • Create continental crosswalks for improved pedestrian safety

Downtown Recommendations

After Hoffmann, Mayor McFarland presented recommendations from the Task Force forthe Watertowndowntown. She began with the aesthetic aspect and recommended four improvements:

  • Plan for installation and updating of murals
  • Improve aesthetics of existing parking lots
  • Remove vegetation to open views to the river and create vistas
  • Install trees and/or plantings to soften aesthetics

Next,McFarland presented five infrastructure recommendations:

  • Install infrastructure for decorative lighting and electrical use
  • Install infrastructure for electric vehicle sharing stations
  • Install infrastructure to accommodate 5G on light poles
  • Reconstruct and improve sea walls along the river Downtown

    Example of a multi-purpose bubbler

  • Install a multi-purpose bubbler

 

She also gave four pedestrian-orientated recommendations:

  • Install well-designed wayfinding signage
  • Create meetings spaces
  • Create and or identify space for winter activities and programming
  • Implement the temporary closing of parts of certain streets for programming.

In addition to thepreviouslymentioned recommendations,McFarlandbrought forwardfive recommendations forfuture planning inthe downtown area:

  • Perform comprehensive parking study to plan for future parking needs
  • Perform transportation network evaluation Downtown to evaluate one-way streets and plan for bike usage
  • Implement plans for developing the river walk north of Cole Bridge
  • Develop a plan for creative alley restoration and public art
  • Plan for green infrastructure improvements downtown

McFarlandexplainedthat the next steps would begatheringcommunity feedback,revisingandfinalizingrecommendations, presentingto public works, and identifyingrecommendationsfrom public worksto address prior to reconstruction.

Question and Answer

Mayor McFarland opened the floor for attendees to askquestions.Thefirst few questions dealt with thefinancial burdenon the communityand plans to pay for the recommendations.

In response to these questions, McFarland shared that these recommendations are not going to happen in the next 5-10 years. These recommendations are for a long-term plan that will be partially funded through grants while some funds will come from the 5-year capital plan where the City of Watertown already has plans to borrow money.

One attendee raised the question that since the timeline for these recommendations is longer than Mayor McFarland is in office, how can she guarantee that the plan will continue? McFarland assured those presentthat there are over 200 people working on the continuation of this project. This team is working to document, support, and structure the plan so thatthe next mayorcan pick it up and continue leading.

One important aspect that Allon, Hoffmann, and McFarland emphasized throughout the presentationwasthat the Task Force wants to work with the community. They want towork withWatertown’s business owners, hear their concerns, and find solutions tailored to their situation.

The Task Force is working hard to make sure Main Street businesses can stay open andfunctionduring construction. With over 100 unique storefronts and few vacancies, the Task Force is looking to enhance the publicperceptionof what the private sector has already done.

“We’re the 34th largest city in the state,” McFarland stated. “We’re not looking to be like every other small town; we want to be the town we already are.”

Watch the presentation .

Find out moreabout future Leadership Breakfasts here.