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Fairborn's Colonel Glenn branding plan to cost $3.6M [Dayton Daily News, Ohio](Dayton Daily News (OH) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 12--The price tag to implement the Colonel Glenn Highway branding plan and help connect the business district with Wright State University will be an estimated $3.6 million, Fairborn city officials said. The city will try to raise funds to cover the cost of the plan by soliciting support from stakeholders who will benefit from the project, including restaurants, retail, office and hotels. The fundraising process will begin this month, according to Pete Bales, Fairborn's public administrative services director. Road construction on Colonel Glenn Highway -- one of the most traveled roads in the city -- is nearing completion, and the city's next step is to enhance that corridor with architectural and landscaping features. The city has been working with POD Design for landscape architecture and graphic design. "There's a life cycle to every corridor, and if you do not reinvest into the community, negative things will happen," said Chris Wimsatt, the city's economic development director. "The area over there will continue to evolve, and this is another good step." The landscaping phase includes: wayfinding signage; decorative LED lighting, including green and gold colors; traffic calming measures; enhanced sidewalks; brick plazas and columns; accessibility standards; and two median islands (850 feet and 250 feet). Grass seed has been planted in the medians. Bales said the project will be phased in "so we're not trying to raise $3.6 million right off the bat," but the cost and details of each phase have not been determined. He said he expects three or more phases, and the project will begin when funding is available for the first phase. Pete Williams, director of the department of development for Greene County, said he envisions in the next three to five years that Colonel Glenn will look similar to Brown Street, near the University of Dayton campus. "Everybody's looking for the same result -- a re-imaged streetscape," Williams said. "It will have a different feel over there when the project is done. Getting all the stakeholders involved is critical." Williams said the county has not discussed yet the possibility of donating money to the project. "We're definitely looking to be a partner," he said. "In what form that takes, I can't speak to that right now. We're looking to be as supportive as we can." Frank Ecklar, director of planning and marketing at the Greater Dayton RTA, previously said the agency's capital support will be providing bus shelters, and that the RTA does not plan to contribute any money. Ecklar said last week that RTA's plans haven't changed at this point. Quaker Steak & Lube has been at its 3725 Presidential Drive location for nearly 11 years. Bob DeBois, director of operations for the company, said Quaker Steak & Lube has had a long-standing relationship with WSU. The restaurant accepts the Wright1 card for student meal plans and offers a 15 percent discount to WSU students. DeBois said the company could possibly donate money to the project. "It's a great opportunity to tie Wright State students into our side of the road from a walking and biking standpoint," he said. "We've been involved in a lot of different ways with Wright State, and we want to continue to grow that partnership." Bales said the $1.46 million Colonel Glenn construction project will be completed soon -- several weeks ahead of schedule. A 0.7-mile stretch on Colonel Glenn, from Paramount Place to just west of University Blvd., has been repaired. Improvements include: resurfacing and restriping the road; replacing and installing new curbs and gutters; sidewalk installation; crosswalk enhancements; and installation of two curbed islands in the center median. Approximately 22,000 vehicles travel Colonel Glenn daily, which makes it the second-busiest road in Fairborn. WSU has an enrollment of about 17,600 students, and the Nutter Center hosts 200 to 225 event days per year. ___ (c)2014 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) Visit the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) at www.daytondailynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |