At a public hearing Wednesday, residents showed support for an initiative to implement new lighting on Spring and Orchard Street, and city officials approved the plan.
According to Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, the new pedestrian lighting will provide a safer environment for the nearly 1,000 students who live in this area.
“This will create a safer environment for students in the area, and provide a better ambiance for students living on that side of campus,” Resnick said.
Final approval for the construction will be discussed at the Dec. 13 City Council meeting.
If approved, construction for the project will start over the summer and run from May 21 to Aug. 17.
Students living around the two blocks of North Orchard and Spring Streets said at the meeting this new lighting will result in a noticeable difference in safety.
“It definitely will make residents feel safer,” Benny So, resident of the Humbucker apartment complex on Spring Street, said. “You never want to go through a dark alleyway.”
To the surprise of the committee, both students and landlords supported the new lighting.
In addition to the lighting, the city will also replace the sanitary and storm water sewers and reconstruct the gutters, sidewalks and pavement.
Resnick said some of the infrastructure dates back to the 1800s and is in need of replacement.
