Phoenix committee to conduct special meeting Jan. 29

Fort Scott, Kan. -- A local committee is scheduled to unveil its plans to revitalize portions of downtown Fort Scott during a public meeting later this month.

The Mayor's Phoenix Downtown Redevelopment Committee, formed in 2005 by then-Fort Scott Mayor Gary Billionis, will present plans to redevelop portions of the downtown area during the special meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, at The Carriage House, corner of Third and Main streets. Committee members will be available at the meeting to discuss upcoming construction projects and financial support for the plan.

For the first time, the public will be able to review the committee's plans for a nearly $2 million project to redevelop and repair the area near Main and Wall streets that was damaged by a devastating March 11, 2005, fire and other areas downtown.

The committee's first step in redeveloping the area involved demolition of the crumbling Miller Block and Nelson Block buildings, which took place in early 2007.

According to information obtained from Fort Scott Economic Development Director Dale Bunn, the project will include the installation of new nostalgic lighting, appealing landscaping, banner displays and other amenities that will be coupled with the necessary infrastructure safety improvements in water service, wastewater and drainage.

"For public safety reasons, we want to make sure there is better water pressure in case of a future fire in the area, so they'll (first responders) be able to get enough water," Bunn said.

Regular information sessions on the logistics of how traffic in the area will be affected will also take place in the coming months, Bunn said in a written statement.

The restoration project, which officials said is expected to begin in mid June, will involve the repairs of brick streets, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, water lines and sanitary sewer lines in the downtown area damaged by the fire. The plan will address the plot of land where the Miller and Nelson blocks once stood and other areas from First Street north on Main Street to Skubitz Plaza, officials said.

The project will not involve any structural changes to existing buildings downtown, Bunn said.

"We won't touch any of the actual buildings," he said. "At least half of the money goes into things you can't see, such as underground work to improve the water supply."

The project will take about six to nine months to complete once work starts.

Committee members said they hope to have the project completed by the end of 2008 or early 2009.

"What a Christmas present and New Year's present that would be for Fort Scott," committee member Don Miller said Tuesday during a committee meeting in which members were able to view the plans and discuss them before the upcoming public meeting on Jan. 29.

The city of Fort Scott has secured about $1.95 million in earmarked funds from Congress -- federal money awarded to the city after the 2005 fire. Most of that money is allocated for infrastructure repair and will be used for the downtown remodeling project, Bunn said. The city has to come up with $350,000 in matching funds for the project, he said.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is the administrator for the project at the local level on behalf of the federal government. KDOT will help coordinate all aspects of the project, Bunn said.

Bunn, who is part of the 16-member Phoenix Committee, also said that current Fort Scott Mayor Dick Hedges has continued to support the committee's efforts.

Over the last two years, committee members "have met with local merchants, citizens, peer communities, government agencies, contracted engineering consultants, historical period lighting suppliers, and landscaping advisors to develop the plans that begin the rebirth of our downtown," the statement said.

For more information on the public meeting, call Bunn at (620) 223-0550.