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Amphitheater back in focus for center of town
(by Mike Klimko - November 26, 2008)
Amphitheater back in focus for center of town
By MIKE KLIMKO
An effort to transform the surroundings of the SOM Centre shopping plaza in Solon into a more appealing place could continue in the course of next year, according to city officials.
A reworking of municipally owned property on Bainbridge Road near the SOM Centre shopping plaza, east of SOM Center Road (Route 91), can be the focal point, Councilman Edward H. Kraus said.
More than two years ago, officials targeted the new fire station at the southwest corner of SOM Center and Bainbridge roads as a way to spark retail redevelopment. At that time, they looked at the half acre northeast of the intersection, across the street from Solon Center of the Arts, for a park.
As part of a combined project for the fire station and a town center, architects mapped out the spot for a possible amphitheater, additional parking and a link for pedestrians between the park and the shopping center.
With the fire station under construction, the Coral Co. unveiled plans to redevelop SOM Centre, and Stark Enterprises proposed a redevelopment of the Solar Center shopping plaza southeast of Aurora (Route 43) and SOM Center roads. Both redevelopment plans subsequently were abandoned.
The map of the fire station, Solon Veterans Memorial Park adjacent to it and the outdoor entertainment park on the opposite corner, presented to the planning commission and City Council, has become outdated since September 2006, Planning Director Robert S. Frankland said.
But it's is still a good concept, he said. A plan to create a pedestrian-friendly area, as planned for the historic commercial district west along Bainbridge Road, as well as the center of town, could be considered in the near future, he said.
"Our focus right now is with the center of town and the development of veterans memorial park. Once we're done with the park, we'll turn our attention to the area across the street from City Hall," Mr. Frankland said.
"One thing we'll have to do is formulate a consensus of council. There was talk about plans for an outdoor entertainment area. There will probably be an amphitheater there."
The amphitheater was shown near new parking lots near the east boundary of municipal property, to the rear of vacant area where the historic Lynch House stands, according to the conceptual map drafted by Brandsetter Carroll Zofcin architects.
"The area could be part of some redevelopment of the Marc's shopping plaza," Mr. Frankland said of SOM Centre. "There's nothing planned now for the city's property. We would need a consensus on what should be included and what would be appropriate," he said.
"We'd go through a process that was similar to what was done with the veterans park. We'd go through the process block by block. The city still hopes to do something with the SOM and Bainbridge intersection," Mr. Frankland said.
"The map by the fire station architects was a conceptual layout made before we started talking about straightening Bainbridge. Bainbridge may or may not be straightened out. I think everything thinks it would be desirable," he said of redesigning the Bainbridge Road curve near City Hall.
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