See you downtown

Sandusky officials were happy after opening bids for the Columbus Avenue streetscape project. The price tag to reconstruct the first three blocks downtown came in under the $5 million cost estimate. This long-planned renovation was almost kiboshed earlier this year when four city commissioners voted against sending it out for bids. Artist rendering of a reconstructed Columbus Avenue. But a second vote, after city staff responded thoroughly to every question they raised, three of four city commissioners switched their votes and saved the project. We're glad they did, and we, like the commissioners, are happy the construction bids lined up within cost expectations. The vote to put it out to bid was 6-1 in favor. We hope the final vote to approve the project gets unanimous support. If it does get the go-ahead, it will be the second redesign of streets in the city's business district in 200 years, and that, in our view, represents a continued commitment and resolve of commission to envision a brighter future and build out that vision. The first three blocks of Columbus Avenue represent the very heart of the business district and the city's center. The redesign plans follow up on the successful reconstruction of Shoreline Drive and the Jackson Street Pier. It would have been a major setback for this project to have been rejected, especially considering the success of those earlier projects. In other words, city planners were right then, and they are right on this. If the city builds out a better plan, the city will prosper. It really is a big deal when a local government can put together a plan like this and follow through on it. The Columbus Avenue streetscape project will rebuild the first three blocks from beneath the road surface, narrow the traffic lanes, expand the sidewalk area, lower curb heights and remove the rising hump in the center, making the area much more pedestrian friendly. We appreciate the "yes" votes for it from commissioners Dave Waddington, Dick Brady and Dennis Murray Jr., who never gave up, and from commissioners Richard Koonce, Kate Vargo and Steve Poggiali, who switched their earlier votes to "yes" after asking city staff a lot of questions and getting answers. We appreciate the process. And there's still more to come, including building the Battery Park project voters approved; creating The Landing and extending Sandusky Bay Pathway; constructing the downtown hotel and a parking garage; and other projects already approved by commission in the city's master plan. The best part of a plan is having a plan.