Due to concerns about the weather, the Old Sixth Ward Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 13 Board meeting scheduled for this evening has been cancelled and will be rescheduled.

Work on the Dow Elementary Park improvements is continuing. It often looks confusing because of the confined space. The construction can be complicated and sometimes it is necessary to move dirt and equipment around so that drains can be installed, forms created for concrete pads and sidewalks and other equipment can be set up . On August 30th the neighborhood participated in the creation of steppingstones for the park. Many of neighborhood families and pets were able to help us personalize the steppingstones with their handprints and initials. In the next month, you should see big changes in the park as the contractor makes progress on the fireplace and grills, refurbished basketball court and play equipment and new bike racks and benches. Luckily several people had their phones at the event on August 30th and have shared some pictures.

We have an opportunity to personalize Dow Elementary Park. Millis, the construction contractor for the park improvements, will be pouring the colored concrete this week. They will have stepping stones ready next Friday 8/30 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm for any local residents, children and pets to come by and put their handprints in them. Come by, bring the kids and the pets and lets help to make the park even more special!

I’m sure most of you have noticed work on the Dow School Park has started. Most of the demolition is complete and several items have been released for fabrication. Underground utility drainage work has begun, and grading work will begin soon. Material and color selections were reviewed, and additional samples have been requested.

Working on a site with lots of history provides an opportunity for discovery—so far, the construction team has found an underground brick structure with a manhole. This is abandoned and filled with dirt and will be added to the as-built drawings so work installed in the future will be conducted with an awareness of the item.

We’ll be keeping you up to date at least once a month, and letting you know if we find any interesting artifacts.

Please contact us with any questions at info@old6wardtirz.org

See the agenda for the Wednesday, June 19, TIRZ Board Meeting here.

The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at MECA/Dow School, 1900 Kane St and is open to the public.

In conjunction with the Dow School Park redesign project, about 300 square feet of brick pavers have been salvaged and are available free to zone residents. These pavers measure 7 X 7 X 2 inches. There are about 1,200 to 1,500. See photos below for their coloration.

If you would like to receive a portion of these pavers, please email sherry@old6wardtirz.org by noon, Tuesday, June 18. Recipients’ names will be randomly drawn at the end of the TIRZ board meeting on June 19 and be notified with instructions about the timing and pick-up location.

Upon notification, people will be responsible for pickup and transportation. No assistance will be available for loading. The pavers are as-is, where is.

Please email to sherry@old6wardtirz.org

• name
• email address
• phone number
• number of bricks requested

Thank you, Old Sixth Ward TIRZ 13.

Click here to view the updated draft (June 15, 2019) of the 2020 budget for the Old Sixth Ward TIRZ 13 to be discussed at the board meeting, Wednesday, June 19, 5:30 p.m. at MECA/Dow School.

Please forward any comments or questions about the draft budget to sherry@old6wardtirz.org by 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 18. All comments will be compiled and shared with the board. Thank you.

To help describe available strategies to manage traffic and improve pedestrian safety, the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 13 hosted a traffic calming workshop in March.

Professional traffic engineering consultant Gonzalo Camacho moderated the workshop, first inviting the 23 attendees to physically map out intersections and walk paths where neighborhood traffic is a concern. Residents provided feedback related to their commutes and stroll patterns.

“I think many of the us discovered that sections of our small neighborhood face unique challenges we may also—or may not—be experiencing in our own daily travel experiences,” explained TIRZ board member Cynthia Card, who has been spearheading the conversation of the issue. “We need to be creative and work together to figure out ways to improve safety for everyone.”

Following extensive participant feedback, Comancho presented the pros and cons of nearly a dozen best-practice approaches used in other communities. He also pointed out that drivers anywhere tend to slow down when presented with an interesting or beautiful thing to view. He challenged residents to be innovative in thinking about grass-roots approaches that might be workable to implement.

Based on the group discussion and subsequent one-on-one conversations, Comancho created a Traffic Safety Workshop Summary Report that details and provides visuals of numerous strategies for traffic management as well as customized, potential approaches for the Old Sixth Ward. He also included a suggested list of relevant entities the neighborhood could pursue as partners for collaboration on implementing traffic calming measures.

The TIRZ funded the study to help inform community discussion about what is possible and to fuel further problem-solving ideas. The TIRZ is now evaluating the traffic calming measures suggested in the Traffic Safety Workshop Summary Report. Traffic calming measures remains on the TIRZ 10-year project list of potential improvements within the zone, but the board also encourages ideas and input from the community for avenues to help accomplish agreed upon approaches.

For more information about traffic calming solutions in the Old Sixth Ward, please view the Traffic Safety Workshop Summary Report.

For more information about the purpose of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, please view What is a TIRZ, How Does It Work?

See the agenda for the Wednesday, April 17 TIRZ Board Meeting here. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at MECA/Dow School, 1900 Kane St and is open to the public.

What projects would you like your Old Sixth Ward Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to be working on in the near and distant future? Recently, the TIRZ board assembled a DRAFT project list and is inviting your suggestions and comments. Please view the potential projects list here: Draft of Old Sixth Ward Potential Projects April 8 2019

Please send any feedback to sherry@old6wardtirz.org by April 14 so it can be incorporated into discussion at the next TIRZ board meeting on Wednesday, April 17.

Thank you for your feedback.