Kendallville Downtown Revitalization

The City of Kendallville actively pursues options to transform their downtown corridor to enhance its overall economic vitality. One of their first phases was to improve three blocks of streetscape within their downtown core, which had not been updated since 1987 and needed significant improvements. This streetscape project, expected to boost the downtown appeal, is connected with other efforts to make downtown more attractive.

Due to the size and complexity of the project, the City of Kendallville commissioned JPR to assist in the development of a Master Plan. The JPR team, working closely with the City’s Mayor and staff, facilitated public workshops to create the Downtown Kendallville Streetscape Master Plan. After preparing the Plan and cost estimates, JPR worked with the City’s grant writer to submit the project to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) for possible funding. In 2018, Kendallville was one of three communities to be awarded funding through the Main Street Revitalization Program.

The City’s $1.2 million streetscape project transformed the downtown corridor between Rush Street and the railroad tracks. Much of the project included tearing out and fully replacing sidewalks and curbs. As part of the project, the City also upgraded its downtown electrical capacity for festivals and events, and installed decorative lighting, planters, benches, and other furnishings.

According to the Mayor of Kendallville, “The goal of making our downtown a destination point has many facets, and the new and improved streetscape will be an essential element of this. Building improvements through façade grants, the ever-growing number of family-friendly downtown activities, the parklet experience, ‘The Alley’ cultural space renovation, as well as a planned pocket park near City Hall will all serve to breathe new life into our beloved historical downtown.”

JPR, upon the award of the grant, continued to work with the City to prepare the necessary construction documents and specifications, facilitated additional public meetings, met with downtown business owners to present the final plans, assisted with the bidding process, vetted bidding contractors, and provided Construction Observation services.