Design of Ottawa’s riverfront development moving forward

The development of Ottawa’s riverfront took a small step forward on Tuesday night when the Ottawa City Council approved planning and design resolutions involving both the proposed amphitheater and the surrounding park.

The council signed off on the preliminary design services agreement with the Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Mayor Robb Hasty noting that firm is looking for some direction regarding the amphitheater that will be the centerpiece of the riverfront, but not its only feature.

“We’re in the conceptual stage (on the amphitheater) right now,” Hasty said. “In our meetings, they’re wanting us to talk in big picture ideas. Do we like this kind of rock or that kind of rock? Do we want modern or do we want classical? That with the idea that once we answer enough of those questions, they’ll be able to hone down the kind of design we’re looking for, as opposed to someone saying, ‘I want it to look like this.’

“I’m always joking, ‘I already know what it looks like.’ They tell me to slow down, we need these big experiments and that’s how we get the nature of it, of what everybody wants. I just have to remember to be patient about it.”

The council also approved a design development agreement with Ginkgo Planning and Design for the surrounding waterfront park. Hasty said that portion of the riverfront effort is further along than the amphitheater’s conceptual stage, the Ginkgo firm actually designing it into such detail as how wide the sidewalks will be, what the grade of Clinton Street will be near the Route 23 bridge, where the light posts will be, etc.

It also authorized a proposal with SB Friedman Development Advisors, a firm which will help with negotiations with any potential businesses (hotels, restaurants, vendors, etc.) that may choose to be a part of the riverfront project.

“The grant we have is for the amphitheater, but you can’t design something like that in a vacuum,” Hasty said. “The amphitheater is only used a handful of times each year, but you have to design it naturally into a park so it can be used for other events. For example, the council is adamant about having an ice skating rink at some point and where would that go? Where’s the parking?

“All of that goes into the master plan for the riverfront park itself and we’re exited we’re moving forward with that.”

Also, Commissioner Brent Barron reminded citizens that with the outdoor temperatures hovering in the single digits, they should let the water faucets trickle just a little to keep water moving in their home indoor pipes, keeping them from freezing solid.

“We know this will make water bills go up,” he said, “but if they contact the water department (at 815-434-0025, ext. 251) to let them know they are doing that, they can go on a list to have their water bill adjusted in the spring. We definitely encourage this.”

In other action, the council:

Approved an agreement with the University of Illinois Board of Trustees to conduct a firefighter training class in Ottawa.

Authorized a maintenance agreement with Braniff Communications regarding the city’s warning sirens.

Approved employment agreements naming Brian Benevides as a part-time electrical inspector and Brian Roalson as part-time code enforcement officer.