Alley Project Moves Forward
‘Alley Kats’ members Theresa Grahek, Sherry Vavra, Ann Brouwer, Karen Hafner pose after Monday nights city council meeting.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The alley adjacent to Smokey Row Coffee and Bridal Dreams will be looking very different in the near future.
The project will see outdoor seating and lighting filling the alley, which will feature programming and be available to host events.
No tax dollars are being used for the project that was spearheaded by Theresa Grahek, Sherry Vavra, Ann Brouwer and Karen Hafner, known collectively as the ‘Alley Kats’.
The Alley Kats are community volunteers who organized and developed the concept to enhance an existing alley, which connects Penn Central Mall with the downtown square.
The concept will include seating and overhead ambient lighting, in addition to providing a history lesson to area visitors about what makes Mahaska County the community it is. The entrance will feature a sculpture that will also be the entrance into the alley.
“This project is intended to encourage additional pedestrian activity and use of the alleyways in downtown, compliment the city square park as an outdoor event venue, and further link the downtown business district with shopping and dining opportunities in nearby buildings.”
The owners of the Bridal Dreams building have expressed concerns about how the project may impact their business and the tenants that call the apartments home.
Concerns about deliveries, and maintenance to the alley were also discussed.
Maintenance of the area will be assumed by Main Street Oskaloosa and participating local businesses such as Smokey Row.
The measure passed the council on a 5-1 vote.
The council also passed a resolution approving the vacation and sale of unused sections of public right-of-way lying between 1216 and 1302 Green Street, between 816 and 902 South 12th Street, and adjacent to 600 6th Avenue East.
Also passed was a request to direct staff to study parking restrictions on C Avenue East between North 11th Street and North Park.
