Kannapolis approves streetscape design

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A major component of the Kannapolis Downtown Revitalization Plan is the infrastructure and streetscape improvements planned for West Avenue and the surrounding streets.

Over the past year staff has been working with DFI and Land Design to examine options for the best design for a streetscape that is unique, has green space, outdoor dining and social hubs, maintains traffic flow and parking options, encourages pedestrian activity, provides interaction between businesses downtown and preserves the historic core of the City

“The streetscape is critical to creating an experience for the people who will live, visit and play in our City. While it is an outdoor space, it is our living room, and we want everyone to feel welcome, to spend time here and ultimately visit the businesses we expect to attract downtown,” commented Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg.

On Dec. 12 City Council approved a design, called the Signature, which combines serpentine and linear features, two way traffic, with roundabouts, green space and outdoor spaces. Council also approved a capital project ordinance for the Streetscape Project which is the financial plan for the item.

The infrastructure project will include replacing and upsizing aging and undersized underground utilities such as water, sewer and storm water, install new technologies, resolve tunnel and routing of utility issues. The streetscape is estimated to cost $5 million and the infrastructure is estimated to cost $15 million. Work on the infrastructure and streetscape is projected to begin summer of 2017.