Philosophers Grove Canges are coming! Plans and specs to start the work are being approved Wednesday!
Here is the agenda (#10) for Wednesday at 4:30, and the link to the item but I cut and pasted the entire information available to the public below, i;e; there are no additional attachments in legistar.
Can you tell where the money is coming from, how it is being spent or what changes are being made?
Fiscal Note
Funds are available in Account 10868-64-130Estimated cost is $25,000.
Title
Approving plans and specifications for modifications to the Philosophers’ Grove located on the 100 Block of West Mifflin Street. (4th AD)
BodyWHEREAS, the 100 block of West Mifflin Street, known at the Philosophers’ Grove, was constructed in 2004 and includes a composition of granite and bronze “stones”; and
WHEREAS, in recent years there have been an increasing number of complaints about negative behavior in this area; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council included funding in the 2015 Capital Budget that specified that an inter-agency City staff team, led by the Planning Division and comprised of staff from Engineering, Parks, Traffic Engineering and others as necessary, will work in conjunction to develop options for area improvements for consideration by the Council in early 2015. Funding of $50,000 of available TID 32 proceeds is to support implementation efforts that may arise from the work completed by the inter-agency staff team; and
WHEREAS, the staff team held two public meetings to receive public input on design issues and programming ideas for the space, and have been advised by the Downtown Coordinating Committee throughout this process; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Coordinating Committee recommended removal of a series “stones” in order to open up the middle of the space to allow for greater pedestrian movement; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Coordinating Committee also asked staff to explore additional physical changes and ways to activate the space so that it is safe and welcoming to all.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the plans and specifications for modifications to the Philosophers’ Grove located on the 100 Block of West Mifflin Street are hereby approved, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Engineer is hereby authorized to contract for the work in accordance with City Ordinances and State Statutes.
Here, I’ll help you out. Hint: They are destroying art, scooping the middle out of the installation . . . and not solving any problems in the process.
