By Liz McMahan
It’s been about four years since Fort Gibson officials learned they had been awarded a $400,000 grant for downtown renovation.
The project may finally be getting closer to becoming a reality, but now there’s question of whether it can meet all the state Department of Transportation’s demands and stay within budget.
The plan calls for putting in streetlights and new sidewalks one block in each direction for the intersection of Lee and Poplar Streets.
The government’s requirements are that the entire project area be brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Architect Mike Martin is again redrawing plans for the project, trying to meet both state and budget guidelines.
At the Board of Trustees meeting last week, several downtown property owners asked the board to pursue building the project to original standards for as far as the money would go, then apply for another grant or allow the public to raise more money.
Kirk Boatright said other than some city labor, neither Centennial Park nor the community Christmas tree had cost taxpayers anything. The funds for those projects were raised privately and through grants, he said.
Trustee Brad Clinkenbeard said once the grant money on Centennial Park ran out, the project was never completed, and the town doesn’t have the resources to finish them.
Bringing this project into compliance with ADA standards creates some unique problems, Martin said. ADA requirements mean that all front entrances to buildings must be level with the sidewalk.
That will mean that in some places, such as in front of the old ice cream parlor, the sidewalk will come out almost level five feet, then have to have a railing to keep people from dropping nine inches to another level. Some curbs will have to be bi-level, he said.
There also are problems with the entry levels east and west on Poplar Street, he said. He has recommended ending the project one-half block east and west instead of going a full block in each direction.
Sandy Atkinson, one of the owners of the buildings housing Scott’s Pharmacy and the chamber of commerce, said there has to be a way to correct the situation.
“When I hear you say ‘Let’s stop here and stop here,’ it’s kind of like I’m buying a $500 dress and putting on my tennis shoes and hoping I look pretty,” Atkinson said. “If you’re going to spend this much money to do the job, get the job done or don’t do it at all.”
