Wall Street Extension


Wall Street Extension Project

Wall Street Extesion photo

WALL STREET PROJECT HISTORY:

Since the early 1980’s, merchants, in association with city staff and city officials, have taken on major Downtown improvement projects that have set the stage for the continued vitality of the Downtown Historic District.

In 1985, Downtown Nampa’s entrepreneurs worked with city officials to form the Downtown Nampa Business Improvement District or BID. The BID worked on the implementation of the Wall Street Extension Project concept by creating the Wall Street Alley pedestrian area between 1st Street South and the Longbranch parking lot. The Wall Street Extension Project concept continued to percolate into the 1990’s and on into the new century. In 2015, when Pre-Funk Beer Bar opened their doors, they helped make the Wall Street Extension project a reality by converting alley space into outdoor seating, sparking vibrancy on 1st Street South. 

Two years later, in 2017, over 25 people came together to participate in a Wall Street Steering Committee and, working with JUB engineering, created a long-term conceptual development plan for Nampa’s Wall Street. This design was driven by desire from the public to redevelop and revitalize Downtown with a particular focus on 1st Street and connectivity to the south toward 3rd Street. There were efforts at that time to solicit grant funding for the concept, which were unsuccessful, but the desire for redevelopment continues to remain strong.

With the recent creation of the Downtown Nampa Association Main Street Program (DNA) who is focused on building and businesses in the Downtown, along with the  redevelopment on 1st Street South and the continued stability of merchants on 2nd Street, the timing seems appropriate to look at continuing the 2017 concept to provide a viable connection between 1st Street South and 2nd Street South.

PROJECT DESIGN:

The 2017 concept design included three primary phased upgrades from Front Street all the way up to 3rd Street South. Currently, we are looking at implementing a portion of Phase IA from 1st Street South to 2nd Street South.

DOWNLOAD THE 2017 CONCEPT SUMMARY HERE

 This reduced version of Phase IA would transform the area into a more desirable, active and walkable access way, creating a pedestrian-only area, starting at 1st Street South and extending southward approximately 110 feet to the back of the buildings facing 1st Street South. The remaining alley way would be accessible to vehicle traffic. In order to facilitate larger delivery vehicles, the revised traffic pattern would include a “U-Shaped” turn area in the Stampede Parking Lot off of 2nd Street South. The project involves upgrading the utilities located under Wall Street from 1st Street South to 2nd Street South, installing hardscape design of colored brick pavers and concrete ribbons (designed as an homage to our history as a railroad town), decorative streetlights, and removable bollards. Trees, shrubs, art, street furniture and façade improvements would be funded through private or grant monies.

 PROJECT PURPOSE & NEED:

This project is supported by multiple city-adopted plans and is specifically identified as a top initiative in the 2017 Nampa Economic Development Plan. The purpose of the project is to address blighted conditions by providing a safe, walkable connection from the existing Wall Street pedestrian path through to 2nd Street South. Current conditions include lack of lighting, inadequate drainage/flooding issues and cracked asphalt, resulting in an uninviting, un-walkable pedestrian corridor surrounded by restaurants.

 PROJECT BENEFITS:

The project would provide numerous benefits to the surrounding Wall Street property and business owners, the downtown corridor, as well as the public. 

 

The Nampa Wall Street Alley Extension Project will:

  • address unsightly and ununiformed garbage collection surrounding the local businesses
  • provide for a more welcomed pathway for the public to the local and surrounding businesses and remaining corridor 
  • improve safety concerns by addressing motor vehicle use of the alleyway that create unnecessary traffic issues

 

PROJECT FUNDING:

Project funding is planned to be a combination of public and private funding. Utility upgrade funding can be funded through the water and sewer enterprise funds as a component of the regular lifecycle upgrades conducted. Potential funding for hardscape improvements are anticipated to come from a variety of sources such as private sector participation and/or grant funding.

 

PROJECT SUPPORT/PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT:

Various public involvement efforts have occurred for the Nampa Wall Street Extension project since its inception in 1985. These include: 

  • Interviews with surrounding Wall Street property owners/stakeholders
  • Two steering committee meetings
  • Funding Agency Coordination meeting with the City of Nampa
  • Concept review meetings with various City departments
  • Public comment period

 

The City of Nampa, as well as stakeholders have expressed strong support of extending and improving connectivity to the Wall Street alleyway.

  

PROJECT TIMELINE:

 10/15/2020                  Stakeholder meeting at Wall Street to discuss project, phasing and opportunities.

 10/21/2020                  Draft concept of traffic pattern realignment mapped.

 10/21 – 11/06/2020     One-on-one communication with all businesses/building owners in the block impacted by potential traffic                                              changes and project implementation.

 11/09 – 11/20/2020      Written feedback requested from stakeholders and Nampa community for preparation of Nampa City Council         

12/07/2020                   Present to Nampa City Council to determine Council support of the project and alternative traffic pattern to                                         be implemented Spring of 2021.

PROPOSED TRAFFIC PATTERN:

Wall St Traffic Pattern

Wall Street Map

For comments or questions please contact Tiffany McCree at [email protected] or call 208.565.5262