Preliminary drawings have been released by Cincinnati's Department of Transportation and Engineering for the reconstruction of Madison Road in Oakley.
Improvements will include the expansion of the Geier Esplanade, bump outs, and sidewalk and curb extensions - all meant to slow traffic from the more than 15,000 cars that come through Oakley Square every day.
The project will also feature new street trees, rain gardens, pervious pavers and sidewalks, bus shelters and signage.
There is no timetable for the beginning of construction.
Up to $750,000 a tax increment financing (TIF) fund loan pool and $600,000 in Cincinnati Neighborhood Business Districts United grants will be used for the project.
Additional drawings
Previous reading on BC:
Cincinnati rolls out three 'new' streetscape TIF projects (4/4/08)
Finance Committee discusses changes on streetscape TIFs (12/6/07)
The Boilover
9 comments:
I like the use of rain gardens.
Looks like a good project to me.
Even though it is probably a traffic flow thing the elimination of the small island with all the nice plantings is a greater asset than the "re-designers" may have thought. It is not a bad idea that little island. There needs to be something worth looking at there in the heart of the square. Hopefully the bigger main island can contain something as intense or shift the content of the small island to be a part of the East side of the bigger island where more people would see it. It needs a "something" or focal point that is visually special, which at this stage of the design does not seem to be there.
Love to see some bike lanes and a bike locking area in that plan. Oakley Square has been the hub of many group bike rides with the Cincinnati Cycle Club and local racers for well over a decade. Many cyclists pop in for parts at Oakley Cycles and grab dinner afterward at Deweys. Bike lanes would certainly keep motorists happy with all the bike traffic that Oakley Square sees.
The new areas in front of Habits, Belmonts and the eye place (gee, that building has got to be the most uncreative, uninspiring building in the world, ok, on the square) might be really nice. However, the main esplanade just looks bigger, not necessarily better.
The entire square is going to be so much better. The jacked up traffic pattern that exists now is going to be fixed, the main island is going to be nearly twice as big and the sidewalks and the landscaping are going to be a massive improvement. Mark my words, Oakley will be Cincinnati's hottest neighborhood after this is finished.
I have lived in Oakley for two years and I love it. The people in Oakley take such good care of their neighborhood, and deserve I nicer square.
anyone know how long it going to take for Oakley Square improvement project?
I haven't seen a project timeline.
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