Marquette DDA holds Baraga Avenue final design input session

The process of redesigning part of Baraga Avenue in Marquette has taken another step forward. The consultants helping the city out were on hand today at the Marquette Commons to get public feedback about what should be in the final design.

The Marquette Downtown Development Authority received a grant last year to get help redesigning Baraga Avenue from Lakeshore Boulevard to Third Street. The Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan State University urban and regional planning program and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority are helping with the design.

“The idea is to be able to build consensus among the residents and business owners about how Baraga Avenue can be transformed into an area that is walkable, bikeable and fully integrated into the downtown,” Michigan State University outreach specialist Wayne Beyea said.

The plans are still in the conceptual stage. They’re not ready to go out for bids yet, but the Marquette DDA still wants to hear people’s opinions.

“Once we have the final report, that’ll be up on our DDA website,” Marquette Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Mona Lang said. “Also, the PowerPoint will be up on the DDA website so people can really look at it (and) give us their feedback, comments, so we’re looking forward to more public input.”

The final report should be ready by mid-to-late August. Construction is likely to begin either next year or in 2016.