Richmond will spend $174,000 to study North West Fifth Street and another $153,100 for design of a multiuse trail extension from the Depot District to the Cardinal Greenway.
The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved contracts with Avenew, an Indianapolis consulting firm, and Clark Dietz, an Indianapolis engineering firm, with 3-0 votes during its Oct. 23 meeting. The city’s Redevelopment Commission in September approved paying for the contracts from its Johns Manville Allocation Area fund.
Avenew helps communities “plan and implement infrastructure improvements that balance technical precision with community vision,” according to its project proposal for the city’s North West Fifth Street Revitalization Study.
Avenew said it will “evaluate improvements and enhancements” from Interstate 70 to U.S. 40, considering functionality, safety and visual appeal, and it will work with a stakeholder working group representing the city, Earlham College, Richmond Community Schools and local business owners. It will then develop a draft master plan by the end of March and finalize that plan within 30 days of receiving comments after city review.
Clark Dietz will design approximately 1,300 feet of multiuse trail to the Cardinal Greenway’s North D Street Trailhead and improvements to the intersection of Fort Wayne Avenue, North Seventh Street and North D Street. The improvements include traffic signal modernizations, new curb ramps, pedestrian push buttons, pedestrian signal heads and pavement replacement. The project does not include curb ramps and pedestrian signal work on the northeast and southeast corners that were part of a previous project for the Loop.
Clark Dietz would prepare the bid plans and documents and follow the project throughout construction to completion.
In addition, the board opened a bid for installation of a new high-performance roofing system at 724 E. Main St. Richmond Neighborhood Rehabilitation renovated that location to include apartments and retail space. It then sold the building and land to the city for its Placemaking Loans Accelerating Community Entrepreneurs program.
Blackmore & Buckner Roofing of Noblesville bid $79,600 for the project.
Bids were also opened for six property demolitions. Five bidders submitted bids for each of the six properties. All of the bids were taken under consideration.
A contract worth $1,400 was approved with Reddog Enterprises for the cleanup of 1912 Western Drive, which was deemed noncompliant with vehicle parts, tires, appliances, furniture, construction materials, trash and debris strewn across the premises.
Richmond Fire Department received approval for a hiring list that includes Brandon Mooney, Santiago Velandia, Shane Berry, Wesley Wise, Carson Hawk and Kody Sauser. The board also approved five contract extensions with companies providing services for the fire department.
A version of this article will appear in the October 29 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.