Downtown design contract awarded to Indianapolis firm

The Indianapolis firm Rundell Ernstberger Associates will be completing the design for the Courthouse Square in Jasper.

The Jasper Redevelopment Commission approved hiring the firm today after the Jasper Common Council approved an allocation of $150,000 in economic development income taxes for the commission. Both decisions were made at a special joint meeting held Friday.

Rundell Ernstberger was selected due to downtown redevelopment being the firm’s specialty.  A nine-person committee comprised of downtown business owners, city staff and elected officials made the decision from five finalists during the decision-making process.

Before making the decision, committee members examined work Rundell Ernstberger completed in Indianapolis, according to redevelopment commission member Andy Seger.

The firm had proposed completing the planning and design for $135,000 but according to redevelopment commission President John Bell, the additional money may be needed as the firm could be asked to add to their services. He said the commission will likely ask them to create a public awareness campaign through social media and by holding public meetings.

The downtown project will cover a two-by-two block area that has the square as its center. The work is expected to incorporate the Downtown + Riverfront Master Plan created by CityVisions that has been added to the city’s comprehensive plan.

Additionally, the firm is working with Hafer Associates on designing The Parklands, the city’s newest park located in the former Jasper Country Club property. Plans for the park could be introduced at the Jasper Park Board’s January meeting.