TRAVERSE CITY — Bayfront construction will extend south across Grandview Parkway with two separate construction projects estimated to cost about $600,000.
City commissioners approved accepting a grant to reconstruct the boat launch on the Boardman River in a more environmentally friendly way, part of a $350,000 reconstruction of the area. It also approved hiring an architectural and engineering firm on a $20,800, no-bid contract to draw up a new south tunnel entrance to Clinch Park. The tunnel along Cass Street will cost an estimated $250,000.
City staffers recommended hiring Cornerstone Architects, instead of bidding out the project, based on the "pizzazz" of its conceptual drawings.
The city planner and engineer rejected drawings proposed as part of the bayfront reconstruction project.
"They were too angular and didn't add any capacity," said Russ Soyring, city planner. "We wanted something with a little more pizazz ... light and airy and bright."
City engineer Tim Lodge redesigned the entrance to widen it and provide more egress to help disperse crowds during special events. The design is compatible with the north side tunnel entrance and construction will be done at the same time. Both entrances will have heated walks, ramps and stairs so the city won't have to close it in winter over ice concerns.
City commissioners questioned the selection process.
"Why did this firm have the ... opportunity to provide a plan instead of some of the other architects in town?" Commissioner Jim Carruthers asked.
The Downtown Development Authority will fund the project and Soyring said the desire was to have something nicer than Lodge's drawings to present to the DDA. Cornerstone agreed to do the drawings at no cost, and its effort, along with the city's time constraints, earned it the contract.
Engineering and design work for the new boat launch will go out for bids once the city obtains grant agreements to help fund the work.
The boat launch started out as a $150,000 repaving project for the parking lot paid for by the parking fund, Soyring said. It will now include: a new launch ramp; wider turn-around area; a launch for kayaks and canoes, plus porous pavers and rain gardens to reduce and treat storm water run-off.
The project will be paid for with a $50,000 donation from Hagerty Insurance, a $156,200 grant from the Michigan Waterways Commission, and a $40,000 Coastal Management Grant to pay for the storm water control features.
The city would like to do the boat launch in the spring, but a fall construction start is more likely, Soyring said.
Region
Related Photos
-
City officials are looking at the possibility of redesigning the Boardman River Boat Launch in Traverse City. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
-
City officials are looking at the possibility of redesigning the tunnel beneath Grandview Parkway at Cass Street in Traverse City. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
-
A drawing of the proposed Boardman River boat launch reconstruction.
-
A rendering of the proposed new south pedestrian tunnel entrance.
Traverse City boat launch update planned
Tunnel entrance and riverside area to get some attention
-
-
Felon wants a firearm
Convicted felon. Bellaire resident Kent McNeil carries that brand, a label he earned after pleading guilty to kidnapping and extortion in 1988. Now he wants to legally possess firearms, though federal law prohibits felons from possessing guns.
Continued ... -
Cass Road crossing will develop with dam removals
It's time to stop talking and start replacing Cass Road Bridge, county officials said.
Continued ... -
Controversial anthropologist calls area home
Since 1999, one of America’s most famous and controversial anthropologists has lived quietly in a home set far off a wooded road with his wife and a hunting dog named Darwin.
Continued ... -
Tension boils over Benzie undersheriff position
Benzie County remains undersheriff-less as county commissioners and sheriff’s department leaders continue a six-month-long battle over pay and benefits that spurred talk of inter-government lawsuits.
Continued ... -
Kalkaska man gets 100 years for sex crimes
A Kalkaska man convicted of sex crimes against his stepdaughters likely will spend his remaining years behind bars.
Continued ... -
Old Mission named among top coastal drives
Old Mission Peninsula claimed a spot on USA Today’s recent list of 10 coastal drives.
Continued ... - Tuesday, June 18, 2013
-
Man could face 7th domestic violence conviction
A Traverse City man with six prior domestic violence convictions is due back in court on the same charge.
Continued ... -
DDA chief nurtured downtown TC growth
Bryan Crough loved to listen to people talk about downtown Traverse City and how it has become a hot spot for the arts, dining and commerce.
Continued ... -
Officials to meet on Cass, Hartman-Hammond river crossings
The Cass Road Bridge will be replaced after all.
Continued ... -
Clearing the Record: 06/18/2013
Because of a reporter’s error, the creator of the six dogmen costumes for the “Dogman 2: Wrath of the Litter” movie was misidentified in Saturday’s Record-Eagle.
Continued ... - Monday, June 17, 2013
-
BATA plan: Load more bikes on buses
Cyclists who pedal the Leelanau Trail between Traverse City and Suttons Bay now have more back-and-forth options.
Continued ... -
Goodwill to develop food truck
An area nonprofit will rely on more than $20,000 in taxpayer-funded grants to begin operating a food truck that accepts Bridge Cards.
Continued ... -
Downtown leader passes away
TRAVERSE CITY — A community pillar who literally helped shape downtown Traverse City died unexpectedly Sunday night of an apparent heart attack. For more than three decades, Bryan Crough, 59, left his mark on local politics and culture, serving as a
Continued ... -
Light & Power board balks at price of proposal
Traverse City Light & Power board members balked at a $60,000-plus, no-bid proposal to plot the city-owned utility’s future.
Continued ... -
Empire event to celebrate beloved soundman
The northern Michigan musical community will pay homage to one of its own during the Summer Solstice Celebration of Music and Community on June 23 from noon to 9 p.m. at Johnson Park in Empire.
Continued ... -
'Thunder' to roll to honor vets
Members of Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 1 invite the public to polish their chrome and join them as they hit the highway for their fourth annual Pure Thunder-escorted veterans memorial ride.
Continued ... -
Northern Notes: Just Mulch gets thank-you
Debra Norman, principal at Lake Ann Elementary School, wrote to thank Scott and Deb Talquist from Just Mulch for providing the school with the equipment and manpower to keep its pond and waterfall operating.
Continued ... - Sunday, June 16, 2013
-
TBAISD to hold budget hearing
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District Board of Education will hold a hearing on their fiscal year 2013-14 budget on Tuesday as board members consider whether to spend some of their nearly 58 percent fund balance.
Continued ... -
'Family is our whole life': Raising quadruplets plus two
Since her quadruplets grew out of diapers, life smoothed out for Tonya Lewandowski.
Continued ... -
Program aims to keep tenants in their homes
Charles Alexander sat in 86th District Court and uttered that he'd rather be dead than homeless.
Continued ... -
Acme beach buildings demo set
Acme Township purchased the last of three buildings on its growing project to create a mile-long shoreline park, and demolition crews are ready to dive into work.
Continued ... -
Free fishing day hooks young anglers
Screeches, squeals and screams of excitement could be heard from Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Campus as kids reeled in rainbow trout.
Continued ... -
Fire damages Garfield Township home
Firefighters were called to 4327 Stoneridge Dr. Saturday at 2:12 a.m. and arrived to flames through the roof.
Continued ... - Saturday, June 15, 2013
-
Michigan still reeling out cash incentives
The heyday of Michigan’s movie incentives has faded, but director Rich Brauer lauded the state’s restructured movie incentive program as “very, very intelligent.”
Continued ... -
Dogman yelps again in film
Walter Rowen panted, not unlike a dog, after he sprinted around on aluminum stilts with furry paws at the bottom with two other similarly outfitted men.
Continued ...
-
Felon wants a firearm
