BriHi Square
Public plaza gets rave reviews from residents
Residents have a new home to enjoy an ice-cream cone and a good conversation.
BriHi Square & Public Plaza by the Numbers
Public Plaza opened on Monday, May 31, 2010
Redevelopment of the corner of Bridge and High streets in Historic Dublin has been a priority for the City since before the 1997 Community Plan. This vision for a central area for our community that would integrate residential, small business and entertainment activities was reiterated in the 2007 Community Plan and the Historic Dublin Revitalization Plan.
As of June 30, the total project cost estimates for the City was $3.07 million with actual costs totaling approximately $3.1 million. The project costs are less than $50,000 higher than the projected estimate, or approximately 1.5% above the project budget. This is well within a typical range for a construction project of this scope.
The City’s vision for this significant community gateway involved creating a unique, high-quality development that complemented the historic character of the surrounding neighborhoods.
There was significant community participation in developing this plan. In addition to a lengthy process of developing the Community Plans and Historic Dublin Redevelopment Plan, the City participated in many meetings with the Historic Dublin Business Association and others to consider the impact and potential benefits of this project as it related to the overall area, including parking needs. The City has worked to address those needs through development of the Darby Street parking lot and parking elsewhere in the district.
Because of the significance of the location within the Historic District, City Council and the Administration have made it a priority that this project meet the community’s aesthetic standards and expectations. Details of the project that ensured these goals were met included using the same or complementary construction materials throughout the site and burying and upgrading utilities.
Given the uniqueness and complexity of the project – which included significant underground utility burial and upgrades to traffic signals and street lighting – it was vital that this project not be rushed simply to ensure rapid completion.
Burial of utilities offers several benefits, including increased reliability of service and a higher degree of aesthetics. Performing underground burial typically alters (and can extend) the sequencing of a project’s construction timeline, but results in a higher-quality development.
By burying utilities, the City also was able to add the ability to connect to DubLink, an existing system of underground fiber-optic conduits that provides high-speed voice, data and video communications to businesses. The network saves corporations time and money by providing an existing “telecommunications pathway” within the City’s business district on which businesses can lease space rather than construct their own lines. The network is part of Dublin’s overall economic development effort create a culture of intelligence defined by broadband infrastructure, a knowledgeable workforce, a system for supporting innovation and the ability to market the strengths of the City.
From a community perspective, Historic Dublin has not traditionally had a significant public gathering space. This public plaza area creates a pedestrian and bike-friendly outdoor place for families and visitors to enjoy, as well as provides opportunities for small-scale public gatherings.
The goals of this projected included increasing the number of visitors to the Historic District through creative design and land use. The City determined the best way to achieve this and other goals was through a public-private partnership that redeveloped the site into a unique, mixed-use space that provides economic opportunities, invites pedestrian traffic, creates an attractive community destination point and blends with the historic nature of the surrounding area.
Goals identified for the project also included anchoring Historic Dublin as a unique community destination; providing mixed uses that support the economic vitality of Historic Dublin; including architectural features that blend with the historic nature of the area; and including creative and engaging outdoor space. Plan requirements included addressing parking requirements adequately for the development and providing sufficient private investment to ensure the continued viability of the development.
In selecting a private company for this project, the City identified several important qualifications, including experience with high-quality mixed-use development or redevelopment, design and construction experience, the ability to communicate effectively with the public, capacity and resources to effectively manage the project, financial stability, and the ability to attract quality tenants.