Patti Jo Peterson

Managing editor

Picture sitting on a park bench under a tree after a local shopping spree in the heart of Plattsmouth historic Main Street district.

This vision may be a reality in a couple of years if funding for a streetscape revitalization project can be identified.

RDG architects revealed a proposed streetscape design for downtown Plattsmouth complete with trees, planting nodes, three styles of lighting and parking lot upgrades Wednesday night.

The design was based on a streetscape study commissioned by Plattsmouth Historic Preservation Board. The preservation board was awarded a Nebraska State Historical Society grant in 2008 to fund the study.

The historic board hired Renaissance Design Group (RDG) from Omaha to conduct the study.

Preservation board president Richard McKinley said improving the downtown streetscapes is an effort to encourage patronage and activities.

RDG designers Amy Haase and Dolores Silkworth conducted the study starting with stakeholder discussions in December 2008 with downtown business owners.

Next they presented a historic virtual tour of Plattsmouth to the public and surveyed people about their preferred design features. A design workshop was also conducted in January where Haase and Silkworth listened to recommendations about the streetscape.

Silkworth explained the physical results of the survey, which included improved sidewalks, better access to building and way-finding elements. Their proposed design incorporates these elements.

 "The prime concern in a commercial environment should be the pedestrian," Silkworth said.

For the design study, Haase and Silkworth concentrated on Main Street from Third to Seventh, and the parking area south of Main Street between Fourth and Fifth streets.

For the design study, Haase and Silkworth concentrated on Main Street from Third to Seventh, and the parking area south of Main Street between Fourth and Fifth streets.

Their design would add planting nodes at the corners of the intersections. The nodes would shorten the distance a person has to walk to get across the street and slow traffic.

The nodes "are also a nice area to expand for seating areas, kiosks, public art and plantings," Silkworth said.

Instead of gray concrete, the paving in node areas would be terracotta and navy concrete blocks. Terracotta sidewalk blocks would be incorporated as well with plain concrete next to building facades, Silkworth said.

Streetlighting is intensified. While the design retains the historical looking lantern lighting already on Main Street, it is  interspersed with high-efficiency cobra head lights along the sidewalk and bollard lighting at the corner nodes and other areas.

Trees, benches and flowering pots would be placed along the sidewalk to encourage people to relax and enjoy their time in Plattsmouth.

Silkworth recommends metal benches for durability. "Wood benches typically last about 15 years. Metal benches last from 20 to 25 years. It might be something to consider," she said. "The pots along the streetscape don’t have to be identical. You would decide on two or three pots generally of the same size, shape and level of detail."

Fourth Street to the public parking lot is designed as a plaza area, Silkworth said.

"During ordinary business hours, people would be able to drive down Main Street and find significant public parking here, but the driveway would be different than a typical street," she said. "We’re looking at having an overhead gateway. We’d take the driveway throat and incline it but have no curb between the travel way and sidewalk."

The sidewalk would be distinguished from the travel way with the use of bollard lighting and colored concrete banding. A performance area could be created and colored concrete inlaid in an arc pattern to create lines for seating. This parking area could also be used for tents and art fairs, Silkworth said.

"The public parking area is reconfigured. We think there is enough room to separate the two bays of parking with an island of shade trees," she said. "We also suggest a reconfiguration by taking the real estate of Fourth Street and making it part of the parking lot.

"We’re looking at the idea of pedestrian walks through the parking lot," Silkworth said. "

Local artists could add flair to the west wall in the lot by painting colorful scenes on it.

Businesses would be encouraged to erect railings to designate outdoor seating areas. "They would have some basic commonality," Silkworth said.

Streetscape improvements aim to increase economic activity in an area and provide a greener environment.

Silkworth said studies show shoppers spend 9-11 percent more on an item, make more return trips and perceive they get better customer service in shopping areas with a green environment.

Enhancing the downtown streetscape would most likely be done block by block. "It has been my experience that business owners and people who frequent businesses are not very tolerant of construction," Silkworth said.

How long the project would take to complete depends on many variables, Silkworth said.

"It takes the right type of contractor who has done this a time or two," she said. "The length of the project depends on the money available and the contractor pool you have. You are so close to Omaha and there are some pretty big contractors who could do the project in a summer."

The project will require funding sources.

"The next stage is the implementation strategy. How much is it going to cost and how are we going to do it?" Haase said.

City Administrator Erv Portis said Community Grant Block Funds (CDGB) may be available.

"Next week we are asking the council to apply for CDBG funds with the potential of 75 percent funding," Portis said. "There are other options for funding without putting the burden on the property owners."

To obtain grant funds, however, a recent streetscape study design had to be completed.