2019 Top 10 – #8: Duval Street Revitalization Help Sought Via RFQ
Before we bring you the Top 10 Key West Bike, Walk, Transit and Streets for People Stories of 2020 we are counting down last year’s 2019 Top 10 to refresh our memories of where we’ve been. Especially as many of the 2019 stories carry over into 2020. Each day we’ll share another story until we get to 2019’s #1 on December 18. THEN we’ll build on that and begin counting down 2020’s Top 10 till the end of the year. We hope you enjoy our 2019 Recap and our new 2020 stories throughout December. Thank you.
By Chris Hamilton; Sunday, December 22, 2019
On November 21, 2019 the City of Key West released a Request for Qualifications for firms to develop and implement a plan for the revitalization of Duval Street to the benefit of the community and visitors alike. The City is looking for a firm with broad-based experience creating entertaining, lively and commercially successful public streetscapes in a historic setting. The goal of the project is to “renovate and revitalize Duval Street to increase opportunities for public use as an iconic civic space for leisure, commerce and tourism; address the infrastructure which will allow for reasonable maintenance frequency and reduce costs to businesses and taxpayers; improve safety for pedestrians and vehicles; and maintain mobility for desired transit operations for all users.” Proposals are due February 21, 2020.
We all love our main street and want to see it prosper and bring our community together. Says Mayor Johnston about the RFQ, “Mall on Duval brought locals downtown who haven’t been there in years, prompting a conversation about what improvements need to be made, including widening sidewalks — they range from 8 to 18 feet — and adding planters and benches. There are street designs that have the sidewalk on the same level, and you divide it off by concrete planters. The street can be cobblestone and the sidewalks can be different materials. … We also need shade, benches and water fountains.”
With the plan likely to include more room for pedestrians, benches, planters, space for tables and chairs and trees. So, yes, we think this is a big deal. The hard work will come in agreeing to a plan and implementing it. We hope adopting a Plan and even starting to implement it, tops our list in 2020. Thanks to the Mayor, Commissioners and City Manager for addressing this and taking such positive action.
#9 City Rebuilds Atlantic Boulevard Bike/Pedestrian Path
#10 City Addresses Closing the Gap at Admiral’s Cut
