Title
Knight Foundation Grant for Beatties Ford Road Public Space
Action
Action:
A. Accept a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in the amount of $225,000 for the construction and programming of public space in the Beatties Ford Road corridor, and
B. Adopt a budget ordinance appropriating $225,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in the General Capital Projects Fund.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Taiwo Jaiyeoba, City Manager’s Office
Erin Chantry, Planning, Design, and Development
Explanation
§ These projects will improve the Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library (Library) underutilized open space on Beatties Ford Road and will enhance the improvements at the intersection of Beatties Ford Road and LaSalle Street in Council District 2.
§ These projects are part of the Corridors of Opportunity program and were identified by the community during the “Beatties Ford Road Placemaking and Public Space Playbook” process.
§ The City applied for the Knight Foundation funding to supplement additional City funds dedicated to placemaking in the corridor. The Library project was previously unfunded.
§ The Knight Foundation funds will be split between the Library and the intersection with approximately two-thirds of the funding going to the Library project and the remaining supplementing the intersection project.
§ The Library open space will be co-designed with the Beatties Ford Road corridor community to potentially include elements such as landscaping, a stormwater garden, an outdoor classroom, art, seating options, and an improved connection to the existing bus stop.
§ The Beatties Ford and LaSalle intersection will include art at the intersection and opportunities for wayfinding and branding at the intersection. This additional funding will supplement the already identified transportation improvements ($1.32 million) and City placemaking dollars ($63,000).
Fiscal Note
Funding: General Capital Investment Plan
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Budget Ordinance