Crews from the Indiana Department of Transportation will do an extensive street rehabilitation project on U.S. 6 in downtown Bremen next year. Along with that, the Town of Bremen is working to include a downtown streetscape improvement project within a three-block span at the time the roads are revamped.
A public hearing regarding a plan for the town’s portion of the effort was conducted Monday afternoon that outlined the aspects within the project. Grant Writer Shannon McLeod from Priority Project Resources said the town was awarded a $40,000 planning grant for this project with the local match of $4,500 to put together the plan.
Landscape Architect Mike Reese from The Troyer Group said the project will include a flex street on South Jackson Street that can be utilized for a host of events including a pavilion and parking along with a gathering space, building façade updates through the town’s façade grant renovation program, expanding sidewalks and curbs with more pedestrian space, outside dining areas, lighting, parking, the addition of a bike lane, and renovating alleys with lighting and art to make them a more friendly space.
There were no other comments during the public hearing.
Following the hearing, the town council members approved a resolution that adopted the downtown revitalization plan.
Now the town council members will have to find a way to fund the improvements. Due to a change in the rules regarding OCRA funding for projects, since Bremen is part of the Marshall County Regional Stellar Communities Designation Initiative, anticipated federal funding would not be available for the project as long as the Stellar Designation looms. The window in which to apply for funding closes prior to the designation announcement. As a result, this project has been added to Bremen’s portion of the Regional Development Plan for the Marshall County Regional Stellar Communities Designation Initiative. If the county is not designated a Regional Stellar Community, funds from an electric grant and TIF money could be used as an alternate way to fund the downtown revitalization plan, however other sources may be discussed as well.
