Council hears public concerns as staff advances Commercial Street rehabilitation for Raleigh Avenue and 35th Street

City engineers presented the 2025 Commercial Street Rehabilitation Project on Jan. 21, a proposal to replace aging pavement and utilities in the Wolf Park commercial area and to add nearly a half‑mile of new sidewalks on Raleigh Avenue and portions of 35th Street.

Staff said the work includes replacing the water main, upsizing sanitary sewer, removing and replacing curb, relocating streetlights, installing stormwater improvements and tree trenches, and planting new trees after construction. Because curb will be removed for utility work, staff proposed reconfiguring street widths on much of Raleigh and 35th Street from 40 feet to 33.5 feet and restricting parking to one side of the street. The staff recommendation would add two new sidewalks (one on each side) and several locations where sidewalks would be set at the back of curb to preserve mature trees.

Why it matters: the utility replacements and curb removal create an opportunity to align the street with the city’s Arrive and Thrive gateway plan and to improve pedestrian connections in an area staff said has higher traffic volumes and adjacent destinations.

Public comment and concerns: several business owners urged caution on narrowing the street in an area with frequent semi‑truck movements. Mark Frederiksen, owner of a building at 5000 West 35th Street, said American Tire and other nearby businesses generate truck traffic and that reducing width could create safety and maneuverability issues for large vehicles. Brian Knuttsfig, a business owner at 3529 Raleigh Avenue, questioned the need for a second sidewalk where a sidewalk already exists and warned about sightline problems when semis park near the post office.

Staff response: engineers said they conducted traffic and parking studies and will present additional information to the council on Feb. 3. Staff also said they recommended one‑side parking on most of the corridor to preserve truck access; the curve at Raleigh/35th would have parking prohibited on both sides because of truck turning needs. Emergency services were consulted and expressed comfort with the proposed configuration, staff said.

Next steps: staff recommended the council vote Feb. 3 so the city can award the contract in April and start construction in May 2025; staff said they will continue outreach to address truck‑parking and sightline concerns before final award.

Ending: The project aims to balance pedestrian improvements, tree preservation and freight access; staff will provide more detailed parking and truck‑turning analyses at the Feb. 3 council meeting before a vote.