Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Art topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Redevelopment commission approves $170,756 for Venom Avenue underpass mural program
Summary
Commissioners authorized a mural program for the Venom Avenue underpass, hiring South Bend artist Alex Ann Allen and collaborators to create wing‑wall mosaics and panel murals; the commission appropriated up to $170,756.25 from downtown TIF for artist fees and contingency.
The Elkhart Redevelopment Commission approved funding on Dec. 9 for a mural program centered on the Venom Avenue underpass and other downtown locations.
Adam Phanis, director of redevelopment, presented the proposed public‑art scope and introduced the lead artist, South Bend muralist Alex Ann Allen, and two collaborating muralists described as a husband‑and‑wife team from Austin, Texas (Britney and Efren). Staff showed examples of Allen’s prior work and explained the plan to paint wing walls and install panelized murals beneath the underpass; the underpass panels are expected to be roughly three 20‑by‑10‑foot segments to fit existing lighting and circulation constraints.
Staff asked the commission to appropriate up to $170,756.25 from the downtown TIF allocation area #1 to pay a base artist fee of $162,625 and provide a 5 percent contingency. Commissioners asked whether the underpass would need to close during painting; Phanis said work would proceed from the sidewalk with lifts and the East Side 10‑foot pathway would remain open. Commissioners discussed other possible mural locations tied to parking‑lot improvements from a separate contract.
The commission moved, seconded and approved the resolution to hire the named artist and appropriate the funds. Staff said final designs will be presented for review before installation.
