Council backs Charles Town Now design report, agrees to pursue engineering phase for North Charles Street

Council members voted Jan. 21 to support Charles Town Now's North Charles Street design report and to proceed to an engineering phase for the project, following a presentation by consultant Matt Pennington of Downstream Strategies.

Pennington summarized the design team's work and community engagement and described a flexible "curbless" shared-street concept intended to function for everyday traffic 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and convert to pedestrian/event mode evenings and weekends. "This would be the start where it's open 9 to 5," Pennington said in his presentation, describing a street that accommodates cars during daily business hours and becomes event-friendly after hours.

The consultant highlighted grant opportunities — including a Chesapeake Bay Trust green-streets grant and other funding sources — and a roughly $35,000 design/engineering opportunity staff and Charles Town Now can pursue to advance engineering and grant readiness. Council members asked staff to ensure alignment with the city's broader stormwater study, and some members raised questions about long-term maintenance and stormwater-tank requirements.

The council passed a motion to support Charles Town Now moving the project into the engineering phase; no city appropriation was required at this stage. Staff and Charles Town Now said they will pursue relevant design and engineering grants and return with details about funding applications and any requests for council letters of support.

Next step: Charles Town Now and staff will pursue engineering funding and report back to council on grant applications and refined cost estimates.