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I’ve had a lot of questions recently about what’s happening with Lebanon Avenue – from residents, businesses, and those interested in starting businesses -- so I thought I’d share the project with you from beginning to end.
As you can see driving through the center of town, Lebanon Avenue is a vital extension of our Main Street area. Adam Turner, our town planner, recognized that very shortly after he arrived in Colchester a little over a year ago. In his words, he “viewed Lebanon Avenue as an underutilized economic development tool and also a natural outgrowth of the various redevelopment projects completed in the center of town.” During my election campaign, I made a commitment to work to revitalize that area of town – continuing the work the past First Selectman Jenny Contois accomplished on Main Street.
The Board of Selectmen, at their December 6, 2007 meeting, created the “Lebanon Avenue Revitalization Task Force” to develop ideas and make suggestions of ways to begin the renewal of the street. Committee members Jennie Lenkiewicz, Charles Guarino, and Amy Steinman worked with business liaison Mike Pasternak and town planner Adam Turner to develop a concept for the street, as well as possible sources of funding. Through January 2008 conversations were held and surveys conducted – including talking to the Colchester Business Association. Adam, Cathy Pompei, chair of the Economic Development Commission, and I also went door-to-door to talk to business owners. Several items repeatedly arose – improve sidewalks, security, parking, and lighting.
By February the group had decided on a plan of action and a potential funding source – the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Supported by the Economic Development Commission, the plan was brought to the Board of Selectman at their February 21, 2008 meeting. The Board approved contracting with a consultant to apply for the grant. With a grant deadline of May 30, 2008 and given the documentation and materials needed, this was an ambitious undertaking.
Work began in earnest. Adam attended several CDBG seminars. A consultant who has had a great track record in obtaining funding for Colchester was retained in March and met with Adam and me on April 17th. At that time the consultant warned us that a six week turnaround for the grant would be extremely difficult, but we wanted to try. And try we did!
I’m not going to list all of the data gathered, documents completed, or meetings attended by your staff, but it was plentiful. And we were saddened on May 29th to hear from our consultant that there we still had several significant pieces of data yet to be completed and would not meet the deadline, but there was a possibility of a round of funding in October if funding is available. Adam, who does not give up easily, went on to complete as much of the application as possible and brought it to Hartford by the deadline; however, in conversations with the granting agency, he decided to not submit it, but to make it as strong as possible for the October round.
Since that time, the Town Planner has attended a three day session in CDBG management; John Malsbenden, representing the First Selectman, attended an entire day of workshops; and, I’ve attended a seminar. We’ve improved the application significantly. A new demographic study replaces the one that was ten years old. Working with executive director Rob Gustafson, a partnership was formed with the Colchester Housing Authority to expand the project to serve the needs of Dublin Village residents. Another partnership was begun between the Parks & Recreation Department and this project to enhance visibility of and access to the Airline Trail from Lebanon Avenue. The engineering study and cost estimates are fine-tuned.
As I sit here writing this, Adam is packaging and finalizing the submission for this week’s deadline. These submittals will only be funded should the DECD have funding remaining after all May submittals are judged and should they deem our project “worthy”; however, should funding not be available tomorrow, then we’ll be many steps ahead for the May 2009 submittal.
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know.
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