Most want Court Avenue to stay open
Historic street slated for repair

advertisements

Most people responding to a Bellefontaine City Council query believe Court Avenue should remain open, now and after it is improved through an Ohio Department of Transportation grant.

About two dozen people attended a public hearing Tuesday to discuss the street’s fate and the message was keep it open.

“I’ve been a proponent of keeping it open,” said former Mayor Gail Hamilton. “Throughout its history, it has been a thoroughfare for commerce.

“I think Court Avenue was meant to stay open. But it was not properly maintained. If it is used sensibly, I believe the concrete on Court Avenue will be here 100 years from now.”

Attorneys John Kelly and John Lawrence, John James of James Floor Coverings, downtown property owner Jason Duff and Susan Froebe speaking on behalf of the Downtown Bellefontaine Partnership Inc. all agreed, saying closing the historic street could hurt commerce downtown and hamper efforts to fill store fronts.

They also encouraged repairing the street and then maintaining it.

Logan County Historical Society Vice President David Wagner and museum curator Todd McCormick said the street should be closed and then marketed as an attraction.

“It’s a unique asset — a one-of-a-kind asset,” Mr. Wagner said. “The more it is used for traffic, the quicker it will deteriorate.

“Once it is gone, it is gone forever.”

He said the society’s board of directors feels strongly the street should be closed.

Tuesday’s hearing was called by Streets Committee Chairman Mark Fissel. He said he has received numerous calls and letters and most support keeping Court Avenue open to traffic.

City Engineer Tim Notestine started the hearing by outlining planned improvements to the street.

Just 30 percent of the original concrete has been replaced, he said, over its 117-year history. A recent survey show 20 percent of the concrete pads need fixing, and of that, half are original concrete.

Once the improvements are made, 60 percent of the street will still consist of the original concrete, he said.

ODOT has committed $172,000 to the $215,000 project, Mr. Notestine said. The city is waiting for the state agency to release the money and that might happen next year.

He agreed the city has failed to adequately maintain Court Avenue and he intends to implement an annual survey of the street and a five-year preventative maintenance schedule.

Mr. McCormick noted there is evidence Court Avenue was the first concrete street in the downtown. Some believe Columbus Avenue was the first.

Should Court Avenue (concrete street) remain open to traffic? Yes No No Opinion View Results If you are unable to vote, please wait 15 minutes and try again. Version 2.02

Contact | Paper Locations
Copyright © 2008 The Bellefontaine Examiner, Hubbard Publishing