Streetscape to be finished on Broadway

The final section of sidewalk will be completed this year to finish the Lorain Broadway streetscape.

On June 1, Lorain City Council approved a contract for the 610 Broadway Sidewalk Restoration Project.

It will complete the sidewalk in front of the building at 610 Broadway, which is owned by Lorain developer Gary Davis.

An exact schedule was not set yet for the job, but once the final paperwork is complete, the work is expected to take place in coming weeks, said City Engineer Dale Vandersommen.

“This is obviously something that’s been a sore thumb on this project for way too long,” Vandersommen said. “We’ll be happy to get this finally addressed.”

Last year, the Broadway streetscape added new signs, lights, traffic flow and sidewalks to the stretch from 10th Street north to West Erie Avenue.

Once the work was completed, one area remained unfinished.

Construction crews found the underground parking area of 610 Broadway extended under the area planned for the new streetscape sidewalk.

Davis and the City Engineering Department disagreed over the best way to rebuild the sidewalks in front of the building.

Although the underground parking was not visible at street level, the unfinished sidewalk was.

It is located just north of the entrance to Brew & Stew, the coffee and sandwich shop that became a popular eatery downtown, and across the street from the Lorain Palace Theater.

“This has been an eyesore and has been a danger to the community that patronizes downtown Lorain,” said Councilwomanat-Large Mary Springowski.

Making repairs

One option was to build a wall below the building, then fill in the space beneath the area where the sidewalk would be.

Davis argued he did not want to lose any underground parking spaces due to that plan.

He hired an engineering firm that suggested using

steel beams and concrete slabs to support the sidewalk above ground while keeping the parking area open underground, according to plans.

The streetscape contractor, Karvo Companies of Stow, could not get subcontractors to bid on the project because the structural steel work was outside of their expertise, Vandersommen said.

The city advertised for bids to build Davis’ plans, said city Law Director Pat Riley.

Alber & Rice, an engineering firm in North Ridgeville, created the blueprints.

The Law Department suggested putting out the documents for bid to test the market and the price came back lower than the suggested plan to install a retaining wall and filling the underground void for the sidewalk, Riley said.

“So, it’s worked out a way that I think that Mr. Davis is happy and the city is saving money under the design that’s been proposed by Mr. Davis,” Riley said.

Bids are in

The engineer’s estimate for the work was $192,000.

Three companies submitted bids.

Terminal Ready Mix of Lorain bid $162,000 for the work.

The total contract is $178,200 because the city typically adds a 10 percent contingency fund to public contracts to cover unforeseen costs, according to the city legislation.

With concrete and steel in place, it appears the design will be sturdy when complete, Vandersommen said.

“We were pleased,” he said. “The quote we received from the streetscape contractor to fill in the basement was $192,000, so I think this is going to be a win-win for the city and the property owner who can retain his underground parking spaces.”