Howard Street: Aquisition

of easements, rights of way

slowing improvements

to downtown
By Frank Ruggiero
ruggiero@wataugademocrat.com

The Boone Town Council knows the price of progress, at least as far as improvements to Howard Street in downtown Boone are concerned.

With an $180,000 design already approved, the only remaining roadblock is the purchase of easements and rights of way along the downtown street.

Toward the beginning of its regular meeting March 20, the council entered closed session to discuss the project, which was listed on the agenda as an action item. After 40 minutes, council members emerged with only a statement.

Mayor pro tem Lynne Mason said the council wished to express appreciation to all property owners who have donated rights of way and easements for the cause, though four property owners are still holding their easements, and five property owners are still holding their rights of way.

Mason said these easements were needed for the project to proceed, and, “It is our goal to address the design with the owners and get right-of-way easements in the next 30 days.

This is really critical, because we’re getting to the point where we need to put this project out to bid if we want to move forward.”

With a price tag of $4,229,630 estimated in June 2007, the cost is likely to continue rising with inflation. In June 2006, the estimate was $3.6 million, and in October that same year, it was $3.9 million.

Town manager Greg Young said he’s spoken with the Local Government Commission to discuss project financing, along with other city needs like water. The commission recommended the town finance the Howard Street project through an installment-purchase arrangement, he said.

“So that was the route we’re looking at, but that still necessitates the borrowing of money and paying back the debt,” he said.

The other option was a general obligation bond, though both could likely result in a tax increase for Boone citizens.

In 2006, the Downtown Boone Development Association was tasked with approaching affected property owners to negotiate the donation of land.

“Every property owner on the two blocks was going to have to give some (land), some more than others, depending on the side and how much was needed,” Young explained. “There were probably one or two pieces that weren’t needed, but the rest of it involved the donation of land to make the project work.”

If those easements and rights-of-way are acquired, the project can go out to bid. If the town does not acquire the land, Young said the council will have to decide on whether or not to move forward or not.

Council member Stephen Phillips ruled out eminent domain as a possibility, and said it seemed like the property owners in question simply had a few concerns that needed addressing, whether it be about parking or pedestrian flow, safety or storm water.

“If we could just get these concerns resolved, then I think we’ll make some progress with Howard Street,” Phillips said. “And the engineers are willing to work with them to address these issues.”

Phillips has been meeting with the affected property owners and said progress is looking good. “From what I can tell, most of the people are cooperative – they just want their particular issue looked at, and I can’t blame them.”

The design incorporates one-way and two-way streets to provide additional parking and pedestrian access on the downtown roadway.

Howard Street would run one way from Depot Street to Water Street, and two ways from Depot Street to Appalachian Street, providing sidewalks on both sides of the road and allowing for safer pedestrian traffic; site furniture, such as benches, bicycle racks and a kiosk; underground utilities; 39 parking spaces on the street; and 33 new trees with landscaping.