by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
City planners have selected the Omaha–based architecture firm HDR to design the improved Bay Street streetscape and say they are pursuing “an aggressive schedule” to complete the work in time for next year’s Super Bowl.
Downtown Development Authority managing director Al Battle said the planning firm would complete conceptual design after the first of the year, allowing the City to accept construction bids early next year. The DDA envisions Bay Street as the City’s main entertainment corridor for the Feb. 6, 2005 Super Bowl.
“HDR is developing the concept plan and we hope to have the conceptual drawings as soon as possible,” said Battle. “Once we have that we can come up with a game plan to implement an acceptable schedule in terms of getting it done in time for the Super Bowl.”
HDR has worked previously for the City, designing streetscape improvements along Water, Monroe and Adams streets among others.
HDR Urban Design Manager Joe Ehardt, the project’s manager, said the design process would extend through December. Like other downtown streetscape enhancements, he said the Bay Street design would feature improved sidewalks, streetlighting and landscaping. However, Ehardt said the Bay Street concept would also feature unique enhancements. He declined to elaborate, but Battle has said previously the design could include distinctive features like neon lighting to distinguish the area as an entertainment corridor.
Some of the extra features could be postponed until after the game. Of paramount importance, Battle said, was to upgrade essentials in time to accommodate hundreds of thousands of visitors sure to be headed for Jacksonville in early 2005.
If the City determines HDR’s entire package cannot be completed in time, Battle said the project could be split into two phases. Phase 1 would include the essentials, Phase 2 would be completed sometime following the Super Bowl, said Battle.
That determination, Battle said, is still at least a month away. Until the design is in hand, the City will proceed as though the entire design is reachable.
“If you ask me today whether we’re planning for the entire concept, the answer is yes,” said Battle.
Battle said the project was proceeding deliberately but appropriately, considering its scope and the importance of Bay Street to the City’s Super Bowl plans.
“The project is underway in the sense that the conceptual planning is well underway, and we’re on our way to figuring out what the project will entail,” said Battle. “Any time you start messing with sidewalks and streets and utilities, it’s quite a bit more complicated than just saying, ‘Here’s the drawings; let’s go do this.’ ”
The City has not yet determined the project’s cost, nor where the money will come from. Interim Chief Operating Officer Lynn Westbrook said that decision would have to be made in January to keep the project on schedule. He said the City was certain to find funding.