The Pontiac Streetscape project in both the Renaissance Pointe and Oxford neighborhoods was identified as a corridor that needed to be prioritized for improvements in the Economic Development & Revitalization section of the Southeast Strategy Update adopted in 2021.
Project Overview
Pontiac Street was identified as a corridor that needed improvement through the Southeast Strategy. This area of Pontiac Street historically served as a primary commercial corridor for the Renaissance Pointe and Oxford Neighborhoods. However, in the late 1980s, and 1990’s businesses along Pontiac slowly declined with the closing of the International Harvester plant in 1983 serving as a contributing factor to the area’s declining economy. A few businesses still remain along the corridor but, the streetscape does not allow for easy pedestrian access to these businesses due to the fact that areas of the sidewalk are not ADA accessible and drivers speed down the road. Over the past few years reinvestment in commercial and residential properties has been happening in this area with the Bottle Works Lofts and infill housing. The goal of this project is to help continue this spur of reinvesting throughout the whole corridor and help it become the active streetscape that it once was. Other goals of this project include streetscape beautification by adding street trees and planter beds, incorporating green infrastructure into the streetscape, and making the sidewalks more ADA-accessible and pedestrian-friendly by implementing traffic calming techniques.
Phase one of this project will go from Hanna Street to Oliver Street. Future phases will continue down to Anthony Boulevard.
PHOTOS OF PONTIAC STREET (BEFORE)
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PHOTOS OF PONTIAC STREET (TACTICAL URBANISM EVENT)
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PONTIAC STREET CONCEPT RENDERING
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Project Goals and Objectives
GOAL ONE: ADA Accessibility
- Objective 1: Wider Sidewalks
- Objective 2: More light poles to allow for ADA clearance
- Objective 3: Add new traffic light with pedestrian push buttons
GOAL TWO: Traffic Calming and Safety
- Objective 1: Narrow drive lanes
- Objective 2: Add shift in lanes
GOAL THREE: Green Infrastructure and Beautification
- Objective 1: Provide additional street trees
- Objective 2: Install new planting areas that double as stormwater retention areas
Project Timeline
August 2021
- Request for proposals (RFP) was opened for design firms
October 2021
- TSW and VS Engineering were selected as the design team
November 2021
- Design team presented the City with design concepts
January 2022
- Design team presents the final schematic design
February 2022 - July 2022
- Design team completed the construction documents
August 2022
- Phase I of the project was submitted to bid
October 2022 - November 2022
- Bids were due
- City Council approved a contract with Mallott Contracting for Phase I of the Pontiac Streetscape project
Spring 2023
- Phase I of the project construction will begin
Project Team
Community Development
- Nancy Townsend, Director - Community Development
- Stacy Haviland, Landscape Architect, and Administrator - Redevelopment
- Holly Petzak, Community Development Manager - Redevelopment
- Hayley Bondi, Urban Designer, and Landscape Architect - Redevelopment
Design Team
- Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group
- VS Engineering
- Apex Consulting
Contractor
- Malott Contracting, Kendallville
Plan Alignment
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Southeast Strategy Update Economic Development & Revitalization One: Build and maintain high-quality and aesthetically pleasing public infrastructure Two: A variety of transportation options should be available to all residents |
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All In Allen Comprehensive Plan (DRAFT) Transportation & Mobility Goal One: Support high-quality infrastructure and systems for all transportation modes that align with community needs and facilitate economic development Goal Three: Increase safe, attractive, multimodal transportation opportunities across the entire Allen County area |
Project Metrics
- Vehicle speeds before and after improvements
- Number of vehicle-related accidents before and after improvements
- Surveys on level of comfortability in crossing Pontiac before and after improvements
- Private investment on Pontiac both before and after improvements
Project Budget
- $2,850,000