By Kathryn Reed

The much talked about multimillion-dollar streetscape improvement to Harrison Avenue is not going to happen. At least not this year.

It was decided by South Lake Tahoe officials and property owners to push back the project to 2014 so everything can be completed in one year.

The thinking is that it would be better for businesses – and patrons – not to endure two construction seasons. This section of town has had work done to it for the last several years between Caltrans projects and Lakeview Commons.

South Tahoe’s Harrison Avenue won’t be overhauled this year. Photo/LTN

With the consultant’s delay in completing the paperwork to get the federal money, the project could not start May 1 when the building season opens in the Lake Tahoe Basin. That meant starting later in the summer and finishing next year or holding off a year. Wait a year is what business owners opted for when they met with city staff March 28.

Coleen Shade, the consultant with R.O. Anderson, did not return a phone call.

The congestion mitigation air quality dollars are $510,000 of the total $3.2 million project. But the project cannot be bid until they are released.

The bulk of the remainder of the money comes from city issuing a bond, some U.S. Forest Service money for water quality, and property owners creating an assessment district. The latter also ensures this frontage street to Highway 50 and the side streets also meet the erosion control requirements of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Essentially a district stormwater collection system will be created instead of each property owner individually dealing with the runoff.

The project will be bid in August or September, with the City Council expected to award the contract in November.

The plans are set and the TRPA permit is in hand. The city is still awaiting some documents from R.O. Anderson.

Rehabbing this area of town next to Lakeview Commons has been talked about since 1995. The scope of work goes from San Jose Avenue to Los Angeles Avenue, and then down the side streets.

AT&T needs to move phone banks and Southwest Gas has to lower gas mains. That could still occur this year.

Some of the streets in the area are going to be one-way and in some cases one lane, diagonal parking will increase the number of spots, paving stones will be used for the sidewalks, crosswalks will be colored concrete, a multi-use Class 1 bike path will go along Riverside Avenue, light standards similar to Ski Run will be erected, and a gateway sign near the boat ramp will be installed.

The vacant lot across from Sno-Flake Drive-In is now owned by the city. In this project it will be paved over for parking. Lights will also be installed.