Rose District Project Creates Anticipation
By EMILY RAMSEY
Managing Editor
PLANS UNVEILED: Broken Arrow City Manager Thomas Moton details features of the Rose District’s streetscaping project, which began June 10. The project will end in mid-October and will widen Main Street sidewalks between Dallas and College, narrow street lanes from four traffic lanes to two, with a center turn lane, and add landscape and an underground electrical system for special events.
EMILY RAMSEY for GTR Newspapers
The Rose District’s streetscaping project has begun, with the expected completion date set for mid-October. The $3.7-million street project began June 10. It will widen Main Street sidewalks between Dallas Street and College Street, narrow street lanes from four traffic lanes to two, with a center turn lane, and add landscape, planters, decorative street lighting and an underground electrical system for special events. The city has entered a $10,960 contract with local company Roses Inc., to provide landscaping services and plants to the newly-constructed area.
Future economic development of the district was the number one reason for the decision to make the street changes, says City Manager Thomas Moton. City officials expect the improvements to bring new businesses to the area, attract more festivals, and aid in pedestrian, bicycle and motorist safety.
Moton also hopes the wider sidewalks will add to increased outdoor activity, such as outside dining found in the Brookside and Cherry Street districts in Tulsa, which will bring a greater vibrancy and energy to the district.
While construction work is planned to finish in mid-October, outside landscape work will continue until mid-November.
The construction plan includes practices that will cause minimal impact to local businesses. This includes limiting construction to one side of the street at a time to allow for continued traffic flow. Also, construction crews will work before and after business hours as much as possible, says city Director of Communications Stephanie Higgins.
After the holiday season is complete, Moton plans to see work begin on Broadway Avenue from its intersection with Main Street, stretching west toward Elm Place about three blocks.
City officials would eventually like to see Broadway become the designated entranceway into the Rose District.
“Improvements to Broadway remain a high priority for the city,” Moton says. “I would like to see bike lanes and sidewalks added to the street and resurfacing done next year.”
The Main Street project, is already accomplishing its goal of bringing new businesses. Bruhouse Grill announced that it will open in the former location of Angus Inn, 201 S. Main St., at the beginning of August.
The streetscape project including the soon-to-be expanded sidewalks, attracted Bruhouse Owner Travis Bruton to the area. He plans to “I love the feel of the old Dooley’s Inn and wanted to bring great food and live entertainment to B.A.,” he says.
Later this summer, a wine and cigar bar will open in the storefront at 207 South Main Street.
“I think the biggest thing I’m looking forward to is the creation of a sense of place,” Moton says. “People work in Broken Arrow or the greater Tulsa area; they want something to do and say, ‘Let’s go to the Rose District,’ and people know that means downtown Broken Arrow.”
To keep residents updated on everything happening in the district, including up-to-the-minute construction information as well as upcoming festivals and events, the city recently launched rosedistrict.com, the district’s website.
Updated 06-24-2013
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