Phase 2 of project to focus on north end of village.

THE OLD sidewalk on the east side of Kasson Street
in downtown Cedar will be replaced as part of Phase 2
of a streetscape project.

The second phase of Cedar’s streetscape project is scheduled to begin next week.

Portions of South Kasson Street (County Road 651 in Cedar) will be demolished along with most of the existing sidewalk from Pleva’s Meats north to the Victoria Creek bridge and replaced as part of the improvement project that is supported by the Cedar Chamber of Commerce, Leelanau County Road Commission and Solon Township.

“It’ll be great for Cedar. Whatever we can do to enhance the beauty of the area and make it a welcoming place for visitors and residents alike is a good thing,” said BJ Christiansen, director of the Cedar Area Community Foundation.

Members of the foundation’s “Walking Friends” group exercise in the area planned for improvements. It has long been plagued with crumbling blacktop and sidewalks, along with a series of drainage problems.

“The water runs down from the intersection (Kasson Street and Bellinger Road) and settles right in front of the store,” said Rich Zywicki, the new owner of Cedar Hardware. “It’ll be an improvement.”

The project will begin Tuesday or Wednesday with the demolition of the roadway along with most of the existing sidewalks to prepare for the installation of a new roadbed, sidewalks with curbs, three water catch basins, driveway approaches, a walkway/bike path to the pedestrian bridge at the river, and electrical conduit with conductors to seven lamp post bases.

Contractors expect only minimal disruptions, such as traffic delays, during the construction period, which is not expected to exceed 45 days. However, some residents may not be able to access their driveways during a 2-day curing period for concrete.

“If it’ll make the community look better … fine. I’m just glad they’re not doing over Labor Day which was a problem during Phase I,” said Tom Pleva, owner of Pleva’s Meats.

Phase I, which included a one-block area in the commercial district, was completed in 2001. The $85,000 project, designed by Gosling Czubak Associates, is being initiated cooperatively between the Cedar Chamber of Commerce, Leelanau County Road Commission and Solon Township. A third phase, from Bunting’s Cedar Market, south to the Solon Township hall is slated for completion before 2010.

“It makes you feel good to see a community where people are obviously invested in and have pride in where they live,” Christiansen said.