Geneseo businesses discuss streetscape enhancement plan

GENESEO — Downtown merchants met with the Village Board and In Site Architecture to discuss the proposed improvements on Main Street, Geneseo.

Around10 business owners gathered to talk about their concerns over the project and to better understand how it will affect them.

Touch of Grayce owner Grayce McLaughlin believes the enhancements will help local businesses.

“I think it will be good for the restaurants, and I think it will be good for the students and the community,” McLaughlin said. “A more pedestrian friendly area is always a great thing.”

McLaughlin also thinks the more narrow street design will make crossing the road safer for pedestrians, since cars will be less likely to pass other vehicles that have stopped to let pedestrians walk.

Though local business owners are excited for the plan to be put into action, they’ll have some waiting to do.

“The project will take around a year to complete,” said In Site Architecture’s Dave Mathews. “That doesn’t mean Main Street is going to be dug up for an entire year — we are going to do this in short phases.”

According to Mathews, the first phase will consist of expanded sidewalks, new planters, and lamp posts. The cross walks will be made of stamped concrete with a brick pattern.

Financing will come from a Main Street rehabilitation grant, as well as from funds in the Village budget.