Buffalo Plaza Design Enters Final StageThe city is moving forward on design plans for the Buffalo Street plaza, which will be constructed next year.
On Monday, city council approved moving funds to pay for final design work on the plaza, which is expected to cost about $1.4 million and will be paid for with state money.
The plaza will be located along Center Lake and represents the public portion of the long-awaited Buffalo Street development that involves a mixed use project that is expected to include housing, commercial and office space.
The north end of Buffalo Street is closed as the city works to improve underground infrastructure.
The plaza will stretch along the lake from Buffalo Street east to a point just north of Indiana Street.
When complete, the northern ends of Indiana and Buffalo will be connected by a curving road that will pass alongside the plaza.
The plaza will include public seating, a boardwalk, an open air gazebo, fountains and a public art piece.
The city is using money for the plaza from the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority and the Regional Cities Initiative.
The artwork will be paid for through a private donation, according to Mayor Joe Thallemer.
Under an agreement with the RDA, the project needs to be completed by the end of 2019, City Planner Jeremy Skinner told council Monday.
The development will require movement of the city’s park office.
The city will host a meeting at 5:15 tonight to look at possible changes, including the permanent home of the office. Officials are seeking public input on a variety of changes involving park property adjacent to Central Park that is traditionally known as Center Lake Park. Final decisions are expected later this year.
The council approved the transfer of $106,000 to pay for final design costs.
The transfer was approved by a 7-0 vote, then the council suspended rules and approved it on second vote, 4-3. The second vote allows the city to access the money more quickly.
The council members who voted against the move in the second vote – Jack Wilhite, Jeff Grose and Ron Shoemaker – indicated they opposed the break in protocol and still support the spending plan.
Construction on the mixed use development is expected to begin this fall.
