Howell is providing a weekly update on construction at the Depot Lot, also known as the Fire and Ice Depot District, as the summer progresses.
Officials hope to complete the project by November after years of planning, according to the city’s website. In tandem, progress is being made on a larger public parking improvement project.
For the most updated information, visit tinyurl.com/md3empw.
What are the main features of Howell’s new Fire and Ice Depot District?
When the district is complete, the area between Walnut Street and Michigan Avenue will be completely transformed, including a 160-by-80-foot pavilion with offices/concessions, restrooms, a maintenance room, lockers and a rentable space, plus a removable 120-by-60-foot ice rink in the winter season.
The rink will be glycol chilled (frozen as long as the weather is 50 degrees or less) and open to residents for free public skating. There will be an hourly fee for non-residents.
The streetscape along Walnut will include public gathering spaces in the form of three fire pits, pergolas for shade, and a playable fountain with LED lights (not to be confused with a splash pad).
The district will have 43 dedicated public parking spaces, but the sum total of parking improvements will provide over 200 additional and accessible spots in downtown Howell.
Is the Howell Sunday Farmers Market moving to the new district?
According to the city’s website, the Howell Sunday Farmers Market intends to remain on State Street.
How is Howell funding the Fire and Ice Depot District?
The city has secured roughly $2.75 million in funding across two grants: $750,000 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and an additional $2 million from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation under the Public Gather Space Initiative.
What construction updates are available this week?
Here are updates on the Fire and Ice Depot District the week of July 3:
Here are updates expected in the coming week:
Here are updates on Howell’s Parking Lot 10 the week of July 3:
Here are updates expected in the coming week:
— Contact reporter Makayla Coffee at mcoffee@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: July 9: What’s the progress on Howell’s transformative Fire and Ice Depot District?
Reporting by Makayla Coffee, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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