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The End Is Near (For the Main Street Makeover, That Is)

Our favorite construction project should be complete by Nov. 23. Here are the five things that are left to do.

Remember back in April when the Main Street Makeover began?

It's been a long road, so to speak, but we're nearly at an end.

The project is scheduled to be complete — meaning all lanes open — on Friday, Nov. 23.

Here are the five things that need to be done before this project can be marked "Complete."

A seat with a view

A lot of historical finds — from soda bottles to human bones — happened during the Makeover. But while most were removed, one is staying right where it is to become its own attraction.

A well or cistern — the city is still researching to find out which it is — from pre-1890s will be covered with plexiglass and have a seat wall on two sides for viewing. An educational sign will also be near by.

Light, action ... concrete

On the brighter side of things, new street lights will be delivered and installed down Main Street. 

Construction on two remaining corners — University and Olde Town — will be completed using bricks from the original Main Street for planters.

And finally, it wouldn't be a construction, er, makeover, project without concrete. Concrete placement will take place north of University and south of Second. Appropriate traffic markings will also be added.

Then on Friday, Nov. 23 all lanes should be open.

Get ready to start your engines, Rochester.

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Patricia Kane October 30, 2012 at 12:13 pm
The new decorative iron pieces look wonderful around the trees-and yes, we are almost there. Jaymes Vettraino, Nik Banda, DDA, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, MDOT, Iafrates, and countless businesses helped keep things rolling and people advised of the progress. This was a mammoth project. Our City and MDOT were outstanding from start to what is now our "near finish". Congratulations to them. They worked long and countless hours and were always available to everyone.
Let's start anticipating the Big Bright Lights, shopping and enjoying our down town with all lanes open. Thanks again to Nik, Jaymes and MDOT for getting us to this point-they worked hard and long. We are counting down.......with anticipation.
Laura Cassar October 30, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Very nicely said, Patricia!
lauren October 30, 2012 at 03:06 pm
will we be getting the talking crossing signals back?
Susan Heholt October 30, 2012 at 03:35 pm
What are the black plastic "tubes" coming out of the planters?
Laura Cassar October 30, 2012 at 07:49 pm
City manager Jaymes Vettraino has kindly answered the posted questions:
The auditory crossing signals have been placed at every intersection and will be activated as part of the project. The black “tubes” coming out of the planters are part of the irrigation and drainage system that was installed as part of the project. There is still clean-up to do a within the tree planters and most of the tubes will be covered with soil or mulch.
David Gifford October 30, 2012 at 08:56 pm
That way the new plants and trees won't die like the ones did on the Paint Creek Bridge planters.
David Gifford October 30, 2012 at 09:24 pm
I am glad to see that there will be new wayfinding signs in the city. I have always felt like we were missing these for the parks and trails. Looking at the "Welcome to Rochester" sign I feel like we don't have an iconic identity that we could include in the sign design. If you look at Mt. Clemens image #4 (http://www.harmonsign.com/wayfinding.php) they have done a great job integrating recognizable icons into their signs. I appreciate that we were the first settlement in Oakland County (by Americans) but I feel like our signs should really be associated with an icon or image of the town. I'm still struggling to nail down that identity. We were a mill town, an industrial town, an agricultural town and now what are we? What image could we associate with Rochester that would look good on our signs other than a blue and yellow wavy line? Perhaps The woolen mill, the old stone store and the opera house?
Patricia Kane October 30, 2012 at 10:57 pm
David, That is interesting. Quite some time ago, I thought it would be nice to invite the public, our students, and artists to submit what they thought should be our "identity. It hit a dead end. I really wanted to see how others perceived our history and what they identified Rochester with and as. After all, the city belongs to all of us and we are its living history now. I can relate to the mills, the agriculture and our water the most. Our history is important, the past as well as what we are creating and living that will be our history in the future. We are one cool town.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Barbara Barnes June 14, 2013 at 03:01 pm
The date is June 20th. Call Barbara Barnes LMSW at 248 651-9097 to reserve you place at the FirstRead More Congregational Church, 1315 N. Pine St, Rochester.
Scot Beaton June 12, 2013 at 11:31 pm
Hugo... the road, bridge, road right of way: The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC)... theRead More aesthetic black fence... Rochester Hills... let's assume there waiting for an insurance claim to go through or debating who pays. Thanks for your post. You could call the Mayor, but he is in Istanbul Turkey... looking over some plans for a new shopping mall they want to build in an historic park. Makes perfectly good sense this is the same Mayor who supported tearing down a historic house on Rochester Road to build a new strip mall... and turning Office Research Technology zoning into a Wal-Mart.
Beverly June 13, 2013 at 12:02 pm
Yes I have been wondering too...I am going to use the RCOC website and see if they will respond
Clara T June 12, 2013 at 10:05 pm
Yes, the Oakland Press had this list.
Clara T June 12, 2013 at 10:07 pm
Can you please provide the names of the individuals representing Lawrence Tech, Rochester College,Read More RCS school board, Crittenton?
Jmamo June 14, 2013 at 09:12 am
It's just a con job on the tax payers. Non productive for Rochester Hills but Barnett will smileRead More with a political knife in the residents back. This really should be brought up by the citizens and not an absent mayor.
Scot Beaton June 9, 2013 at 09:43 pm
Scot, I just picked up on your piece in the Patch because I monitor articles about the GulenRead More Movement's activities in the US, something I started doing three years ago after becoming aware of the GM's massive involvement in charter schools. Here's my piece about that situation published by The Washington Post last year. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/largest-charter-network-in-us-schools-tied-to-turkey/2012/03/23/gIQAoaFzcS_blog.html Concerning me nearly as much as the GM's stealth charter school expansion are the propaganda trips to Turkey given out to our public officials and other influential VIPs. I've been collecting accounts of these trips for the past few years and the number of Americans who have been on these trips is absolutely shocking. You are right to be alarmed by your mayor being convinced to go on one of these Turkey trips. I present some information about the trips here: http://perimeterprimate.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-gulen-movements-subsidized-guided.html The purpose of the trips is to recruit sympathizers. Making "friends" with VIPs over the course of a 10-day trip is a way to instill Gulenist ideology and misinformation about Turkey into the travelers' minds. It's also a way to set things up so the GM can tap them for favors later on. Some of the travelers might be approached to support a new charter school in their community, perhaps even serve as a token American on its board. This has happened a number of times. The Gulenists' ability to convince people that the only thing they want is to be their "friend" is tremendous and a lot of the people definitely return "Turkey-tripped." The Gulen Movement is a very smart, wealthy, and well-coordinated group. They are on a mission to create their vision of Turkey's future and to make it less and less secular. American targets are way too naive. BTW, here's info about the Gulen charter school operator that already runs one charter school in your state. http://www.scribd.com/doc/133456790/Concept-Schools-Illinois-and-the-Gulen-Movement Tomorrow morning (6/10, 8 AM show) I'll be a guest on a local radio show here in the Bay Area to talk about the Gulen movement's charter schools and the GM's connection to the massive protests in Turkey. Tune into the live feed if you want to learn more. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Regards, Sharon Higgins Oakland, CA KPFA The Morning Mix - WorkWeek
Scot Beaton June 10, 2013 at 03:45 pm
Clara T, Very sad we can't get an Answer... :( I also think the foundation should post theirRead More expenses. Clara T, the good news the Patch is a good source for reading press releases. LOL