He later added, “I think it’s a big deal.”
MORE: Valley Street construction ends after 15-month rebuild
Last week, the city of Dayton issued a request for bids to realign Valley Street at North Keowee Street.
The city wants to eliminate the section of Valley Street south of Tony Stein Way (also called Ohio Street) that connects to Keowee Street via a Y-intersection.
Tony Stein Way, which runs into Keowee, will become the new Valley Street.
The southernmost section of Valley Street will be removed and turned into green space that complements Joseph R. Kanak Park, located adjacent and south of the current roadway, Steeber said.
The monument separating the northbound and southbound lanes of Valley will remain, as will the monument and signage on an island separating Valley and Tony Stein Way.
“It’ll be a grass area and will seem like a giant park,” he said.
The roughly $1.2 million project overall will make traffic patterns more efficient, and the reconfigured intersection should benefit investments in the area and could boost development interest, Steeber said.
Valley Street, between Rita Street and Stanley Avenue near Dayton Children’s Hospital, was rebuilt in the last two years, with construction finishing up earlier this year.
New signage and wayfinding has been installed along Valley and other streets to make the Old North Dayton neighborhood more attractive and welcoming.
MORE: Dayton neighborhood investments near hospitals top $500M
The reconfiguration project will not lead to detours, but lanes will shift.
Construction is expected to start in April and last through the end of 2020, said Katie Lunne, senior project manager with CityWide.
The reconstruction will add wider sidewalks, upgraded lighting and new trees and green space, she said.
CityWide gathered feedback from residents and businesses, who indicated they wanted updates to current park areas and monuments and other enhancements, Lunne said.
People want improved visibility into park areas, better views of the river and downtown and better connections to the trails and the Mad River, Lunne said.
She also said they would like more murals along the levee wall, refurbished memorials and sculptures and additional lighting signage and elements that tell the story or share the rich history of Old North Dayton.
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