BEDFORD — The Bedford Board of Works took action on two Stellar projects that, once completed, will bring big changes to downtown Bedford.
Board members Byron Buker, Scott Moore and Mayor Shawna Girgis approved payment of $272,297 for work completed so far on the StoneGate Arts & Education Center at the corner of 15th and J streets.
Patterson-Horth of Indianapolis has backfilled the lot, and the concrete footers are in place. Next week, the decking and large steel beams will arrive, resulting in temporary closures of J Street on Monday and Wednesday. Marla Jones, the city’s business and community development director, told the board that the city continues to meet with Patterson-Horth to ensure work is done according to the contract. StoneGate will be a three-story building that will house college classes and workforce training as well as provide space for the arts. The $4.4 million project will be completed in 2018.
Jones also updated the board on the downtown facade project. The final documents have been drawn, and the city is ready to receive bids. Jones said bids will be opened at the December BOWs meeting. In January, the city will meet with the 15 building owners who have been part of the facade project. At that time, the owners will learn the cost of their portion of the project. Stellar and city funds will pay 80 percent with the owner paying 20 percent. In February, Jones said building owners will opt in or out of the project. Jones said construction should begin in April with a tentative completion date of November 2018.
Funding for the project is estimated at $1,326,800, with the majority coming from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Originally, the city budgeted $826,000 for the project but was able to add an additional $500,000 when the renovation of a downtown building for a business incubator, which was included in its Stellar plan, was scrapped after moving the incubator into the StoneGate Arts & Education Center, 405 I St. The shift freed up those funds for the facades.