BY LUCIE KRISMAN
The Eudora City Commission approved Monday an agreement establishing the final Church Street design and maximum price of the improvements as part of the Nottingham redevelopment project.
The total cost of the improvements is about $2 million, with $1.25 million funded by a KDOT grant and the remaining $742,000 paid by the city.
Among the planned improvements along Church Street are curb and gutter work, sidewalk construction and traffic signal installation. The complete list of improvements included in the project can be viewed in the meeting's agenda packet.
The Church Street improvements will take place over the course of four phases, one of which involves an approximately 12-week period this summer when Church Street will be closed from 15th Street to 14th Street. During this time, traffic will be detoured to Locust Street.
Pending weather conditions, the entire Church Street improvement project will take approximately five months.
In a work session, city staff and commissioners discussed the Nottingham development team's marketing plans. These include a website page for the Nottingham Center that will be featured on the city's existing website and will highlight key aspects and project updates for the center. A site plan for the center can also be viewed in the meeting's agenda.
Michael Comparato of Vieste LLC told commissioners the Nottingham team is working on a merchandising plan to incorporate a mix of attractions, such as food and beverage, entertainment and convenience retail. In addition, the team also plans to release a series of press releases and media advisories to raise public awareness about the project's progress, in hopes that it will raise public excitement and attract more tenants to the property.
"We now are looking at coming into 2021 really creating an exciting and more public view of Nottingham," Comparato said. "Not only to build that excitement locally but regionally, as we look to grow the base of merchants and developers to the project."
City Manager Barack Matite said other business possibilities that Eudora residents have voiced interest in, such as a new hardware store or auto parts store, might find a place in other nearby zoning opportunities even if they are not a part of the Nottingham property.
"I think what we'll be doing at Nottingham will generate some excitement to be able to create opportunities and some overflow effects," Matite said. "That's what we're trying to do, keep the momentum going and not turn away business opportunities that we know will help the community."
In other news, Ben Terwilliger, executive director of the Eudora Area Historical Society, gave commissioners his first of two annual updates of 2021.
While this past year saw a decrease in museum visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eudora Community Museum moved many programs and tours online. Two new buildings in Eudora were also added to the Kansas state National Register, including 714 Main St. and the Holy Family Catholic Church.
Terwilliger also expressed gratitude to the city for hiring him as the Historical Society's executive director 10 years ago.
"I just want to thank everyone for supporting me all that time," Terwilliger said. "It's been a real pleasure to work here."
Reach reporter Lucie Krisman at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
To donate to support our community journalism, please go to this link: tinyurl.com/y4u7stxj