Future bright for Old Village

City continues to add decorative lighting

Part of a project to lighten the heart of old Mentor is expected to begin this fall.

City Council recently approved hiring Wadsworth-based Perram Electric Inc. for the Old Village Lighting Project Phase 1.

It involves installing 36 decorative light poles along Route 615 between Routes 20 and 84, and along Route 20 between Route 615 and Cadle Avenue.

“The style of the lights will be comparable to the ones on Civic Center (Boulevard) and will be full cut-off with LED fixtures,” Public Works Director Matt Schweikert said.

Two bids were received, ranging from $572,572 to $713,750. The cost

“These lights will be another effort to add to the vibrancy of the Old Village district.” — Public Works Director Matt Schweikert

estimate was $600,000.

The contractor anticipates a late fall start.

“The project will require the occasional fairly short lane closure for the drilling of foundations and installing the posts,” Schweikert said. “That should be the worst of traffic impact.”

Phase 2 involves adding 60 poles, arms and light fixtures on Route 615 from Route 20 to Carpenter Drive, and on Route 20 from Route 615 to Little Mountain Road/Jackson Street. It also entails removing 13 FirstEnergy lights.

The second phase hinges on completion of the Route 20 widening project, scheduled to begin

this summer and end next June.

“We will wait until this work is mostly completed before we bid out phase 2,” Schweikert said. “That said, we have been incorporating the widening project into our phase 2 plans, (such as) installation of conduit to be installed when the road is torn up.”

The phases represent total investment of about $2.4 million. Council voted last fall to purchase poles for phase 1.

The projects are to be funded via tax increment financing and revenue from the city’s street lighting assessment program.

Similar lights already stand in other high-profile areas of the city. Along with Civic Center Boulevard, they include portions of Route 615 and Route 306 near Interstate

90.

“These lights will be another effort to add to the vibrancy of the Old Village district,” Schweikert said. “City Council defined the Old Village as a community reinvestment area, which has led to improvements such as the Old Village Hall.”

The new lights also are viewed as a safety improvement, increasing visibility without causing light trespass.

Mentor Economic & Community Development Director Ronald M. Traub sees the project as providing multiple benefits: “The new street lighting will, in my opinion, help reinforce a sense of place and identity for the Old Village. In addition, this is could create an environment which will lead to private investment and a vibrant main street.”