January 1985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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HISTORIC DISTRICT LIGHTING MEETING Page 2 0 - Mr. McDonald described the current boulevard lighting that I & M has available: a grey or black fiberglass pole about 14' - cost is $200 to $300 whil.e concrete poles are $600 to $700. He said it can be seen at the I & M Service Bldg. at Lathrop St (near the entrances). - What about using better designed lanterns on fiberglass poles? Mr. McDonald said it would not work because of differences in size. - The new fiberglass lanterns are very utilitarian with little attention to quality design and easily damaged. - Mr. McDonald indicated that 1 advantage of the fiberglass poles is that a concrete base is not used thus some of the costs are defrayed. They are simply put into the ground and if knocked over are re -installed. - Mr. Crumlish described a reproduction lamp being installed by the power company in Niagara, N.Y. It is made of polymer. - There is a diversity within the historic districts so that a couple styles of reproductions would be appropriate. Could not several of each style be stock piled to be drawn from as replacements are necessary over the next several years? - The HPC needs information on lighting policies of the City and I & M in order to set up standards for historic districts. How do we seek this information? - Requests for new lighting go to the City but the City has no budget for new installations. - A Riverside resident expressed the commitment of his neighborhood to try to preserve some of our heritage by saving the architecture and ambience of the early 20th century Riverside Drive area. He felt that that could not be accomplished unless it was a City-wide effort. - I & M no longer offers incandescent lighting for new or replacement lampposts. High pressure sodium or mercury vapor are being used. They are attempting to take down old lampposts in areas where there is no concern for them to be able to replace lampposts in historic neighborhoods where there is concern. Ten years ago, whenever I & M took down several lampposts, those were sold. I & M areas - Muncie, Ft. Wayne, Muncie, Benton Harbor. Ft. Wayne historic reproduction - customer -owned and maintained,installed by City Light (now owned by I & M). - Why should established historic neighborhoods which are an economic asset to the City have to pay for their own streetlights in order to have something '40 aesthetically pleasing?