AUBURN, Ind. – After completion of a successful downtown streetscape project in 2022, the city of Auburn embarked on the next streetscape phase this summer.
Working with the Auburn Redevelopment Commission the city leveraged $1 million of Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) dollars for its 2023 project, which is set to wrap up before the end of the month.
The project with an estimated construction cost of $605,765 redefined the city’s westerly coridor into downtown with work from Van Buren Street to the railroad tracks on Seventh Street (S.R. 8).
The 2023 project, managed by M.F. Projects, LLC of Waterloo, included the replacement of sidewalks on the north and south side of Seventh Street along with new decorative lighting on the south side of the roadway. Renovations also included the planting of 40 trees on the north/south side of Seventh Street and the replacement of grass, which was disturbed during construction.
The streetscape work goes hand-in-hand with what Mayor Mike Ley believes is the greatest period of development in the city’s history, especially on the commercial side.
With the completion of Phase II of the project the city has utilized over $1.2 million of TIF dollars to improve its downtown and corridor leading to its downtown.
The first phase of the project completed in 2022 at a cost of $626,799.78 renovated Ninth Street between Cedar and Main streets. The 2022 project included the replacement of sidewalks along the south side of Ninth Street along with portions of Main and Cedar streets with brick faced sidewalks.
During the construction the Auburn Water Department took the opportunity to replace the water service lines and water meters to the businesses along the downtown block.
Other improvements included the repaving of Ninth Street between Cedar and Main, ADA curb ramps, trees, tree grates, trash cans, benches, and lighting.
The city administration along with the Redevelopment Commission looks to continue to use a portion of TIF dollars to beautify its downtown over the next several years.
The city’s first streetscape project was completed in 2018 when the Sixth Street corridor was reimagined in downtown along Main Street.