BHA Design and city staff presented conceptual plans, outreach findings and preliminary cost ranges on Aug. 12 for a Third Street beautification project that focuses on the corridor between Clark and Sheridan. The project emphasizes small‑scale interventions between curb and building face: gateway elements, parking screening, plantings, street furnishings, and coordination with a selected public art team.

Doug Elgar of BHA Design described outreach in April and May and said the design team met stakeholders including the Montana Street stakeholders — (sic) Laramie Main Street Alliance, YDOT, and business owners — and held two well‑attended open houses. The plan seeks to balance the corridor’s role as a state highway and as the city’s downtown main street. Key concepts presented include replacing chain‑link fencing at the Montessori block with decorative screening and planting, planting and low walls to screen rental and service lots, a small community dining area at the Daylight Donuts corner, and gateway art installations at key corners.

Elgar presented a set of block‑level planning estimates for illustrative purposes: the Montessori block $330k–$400k, the Enterprise/under‑block area $160k–$200k, the Daylight Donuts corner $110k–$135k, the Travel Inn corner $200k–$245k, and core corner improvements at Third and Grand $160k–$200k. He noted the current funding does not cover all ideas and that improvements of this kind often spur private property owners to follow with complementary upgrades.

Assistant City Manager Todd Feeser said staff is negotiating easements and exploring grants; he noted early interest from WyoTech and its welding program to fabricate metal elements and a potential private donation to support fabrication. Councilors asked about signalization, lighting and future corridor extensions; staff said signals would require traffic studies and substantial cost, and that the current scope is focused on the historic downtown eight‑block corridor. Councilors and staff said the work is intended to be community driven and phased to avoid repeated lane closures and business disruptions.

Public commenters and the beautification committee representatives expressed support. Staff said they will continue stakeholder outreach, pursue grant funding, finalize construction documents and, once funding and easements are in place, bring projects forward for implementation.