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City gets south side grant

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
A federal grant will help the city of Stevens Point acquire property in the Church-Division streets corridor of the south side business district.

The state Department of Transportation notified city officials Wednesday, June 27, that the city will be receiving up to $880,000 toward the $1.1 million project to improve the Business Highway 51 route in the city, primarily in the area between Monroe and Dixon streets.

Mayor Gary Wescott said he was elated the city received the grant. "We are certainly pleased that they have recognized that the project has impact and merits assistance," he said. "We have been working with state and federal officials on this for about two years."

He said the money won't become available until July 2002, but the city can begin preliminary stages for the program.

The state has assigned a timeline of 2005 for construction, Wescott said, but the city has asked that it be considered for 2004. The Church-Division corridor is the most heavily traveled route in the county.

The federal funds come as part of the Urban Transportation System program. The Portage County Urban Transportation System Committee had ranked the Church-Division project as the top priority in the county, giving the city until the end of July to act on a proposal for the route.

Wescott told the Common Council Monday during a meeting on capital improvements in the city that he expected to present a proposal on the south side at its July meeting.

He said he was waiting to hear about the grant application, which has climbed several levels of review.

He praised Jon Van Alstine, director of public works for the city, for his efforts on the proposal. "He has spent long hours working on the paperwork for grants," Wescott said.

Wescott said he hopes to supplement the federal grant with other funding, in addition to city money for acquisition. "We believe other funds will be available, possibly through the state," he said.

The news of the grant comes at a time when the buildings on the east side of the 2200 block of Division, once the main south side shopping area, are vacant.

In the last year or so, North Star Paint and Body Supply, EdRich TruValue Hardware, Point Bakery and Roska Pharmacy vacated the strip of buildings in that block.

The South Side Business Association had recommended purchasing those buildings to straighten the turn from Church onto Division at the location, and Wescott said the grant should allow the city to make those acquisitions if the council accepts a proposal to do so.

He thanked the association for its input into the project regarding construction in the corridor, and said specific proposals will now be designed to gain input about the project.



	City gets south side grant By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette A federal grant will help the city of Stevens Point acquire property in the Church-Division streets corridor of the south side business district. The state Department of Transportation notified city officials Wednesday, June 27, that the city will be receiving up to $880,000 toward the $1.1 million project to improve the Business Highway 51 route in the city, primarily in the area between Monroe and Dixon streets. Mayor Gary Wescott said he was elated the city received the grant. "We are certainly pleased that they have recognized that the project has impact and merits assistance," he said. "We have been working with state and federal officials on this for about two years." He said the money won't become available until July 2002, but the city can begin preliminary stages for the program. The state has assigned a timeline of 2005 for construction, Wescott said, but the city has asked that it be considered for 2004. The Church-Division corridor is the most heavily traveled route in the county. The federal funds come as part of the Urban Transportation System program. The Portage County Urban Transportation System Committee had ranked the Church-Division project as the top priority in the county, giving the city until the end of July to act on a proposal for the route. Wescott told the Common Council Monday during a meeting on capital improvements in the city that he expected to present a proposal on the south side at its July meeting. He said he was waiting to hear about the grant application, which has climbed several levels of review. He praised Jon Van Alstine, director of public works for the city, for his efforts on the proposal. "He has spent long hours working on the paperwork for grants," Wescott said. Wescott said he hopes to supplement the federal grant with other funding, in addition to city money for acquisition. "We believe other funds will be available, possibly through the state," he said. The news of the grant comes at a time when the buildings on the east side of the 2200 block of Division, once the main south side shopping area, are vacant. In the last year or so, North Star Paint and Body Supply, EdRich TruValue Hardware, Point Bakery and Roska Pharmacy vacated the strip of buildings in that block. The South Side Business Association had recommended purchasing those buildings to straighten the turn from Church onto Division at the location, and Wescott said the grant should allow the city to make those acquisitions if the council accepts a proposal to do so. He thanked the association for its input into the project regarding construction in the corridor, and said specific proposals will now be designed to gain input about the project.