September 15, 2009

Construction winding down on Sixth St.; DRC announces winners of its 'barrel boys' naming contest


"The Three Constructioneers" - Cautious Clay, Gorge Foreman and Monument Ali - are standing watch as construction work winds down on Sixth Street.

Those were the winning names chosen in Downtown Racine Corp's contest to name "The Barrel Boys," large sculptures created out of orange construction barrels and displayed in the construction zone on Sixth Street.

The contest was a bit of levity in a summer-long construction project on one of Downtown's major shopping streets. Fortunately, work is near conclusion, DRC Executive Director Devin Sutherland said Tuesday.

Road construction is scheduled to be done by Friday, Sept. 25 and the brick pavers for the sidewalks will start going in on Sept. 28. Enough work will be done for the street and sidewalks to be open for Party on the Pavement on Oct. 3, Sutherland said.

The rain last month didn't slow construction, Sutherland said. The area's sandy soil kept the ground well-drained, and the crews only stopped working when it was actually raining. That allowed them to make up a lost week of time from earlier in the summer when complications with telecommunications lines slowed work.

Once Sixth Street is finished Downtown's two major streets will be completed, though some work is still scheduled for next two years. State Street into Downtown is scheduled for work next summer and Seventh Street the year after, Sutherland said.

Next year, Wisconsin Avenue also will be resurfaced, he said.

The Barrel Boys naming contest started in late August when the 9-foot-tall sculptures were commissioned to remind people that Sixth Street businesses are open.

The winning name, which will replace Barrel Boys, is The Three Constructioneers, which was submitted by Cameron Fair of Racine.

In addition Sherri Myers Wray of Racine submitted winning individual names for each sculpture -- Cautious Clay, Monument Ali, and Gorge Foreman.

Both Cameron and Sherri were awarded Downtown gift certificates. Over 40 suggested names were submitted to the DRC.

16 comments:

  1. You mean to tell me that my "Hear no Evil, See no Evil, and Speak no Evil" slogan didn't get honorable mention?? It fits ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for the Downtown/City Hall area in my opinion (A humble one at that).

    Party On!!

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  3. WOW Pete and Dunstan:

    You allow that type of profanity in a comment???? Hypocrites, nothing but!!! What happened Pete??? Because it's not directed at you it's OK??? LMAO!!!!

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  4. Why did it take 3 years to complete the Main St. constuction which put some merchants out of business and only one year for 6th St project?

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  5. Anon 8:21. Sixth Street was a two-year project.

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  6. Pete - if that is true, why 3 years v.s. 2?

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  7. Anon 10:25. What do you mean, "If that is true?" It's true, whether you believe it or not. I was here last year and saw it with my own two eyes.

    As for why Main Street took three years: Frankly, I don't remember that; I thought it was a two-year project. But I'm not motivated to look it up. Feel free and report back if you like.

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  8. Pete - you said "What do you mean, "If that is true?" It's true, whether you believe it or not. I was here last year and saw it with my own two eyes." Just like the Palment story? You don't always get it right so don't be so damn pompous!

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  9. Anon 9:14: Our initial Palmen story spelled out our difficulty in getting the story and made clear that we hadn't been able to reach Andy Palmen. I take the response with a grain of salt, and wish him the best of luck.

    As for your statement about Sixth Street taking "just one year" ... you were wrong, so just admit it and move along.

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  10. Pete - so you run a story without clear understanding of what is really occuring - great journalism. I suggest you get the story right before you publish it. Oh, I could not get a hold of Andy Palmen - like that gives you the right to proceed with an unfounded article.

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  11. Pete - your not being so pompous now are you. You are afraid to admit - you blew it.

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  12. Anon 1:08: Naw, I'm as pompous as ever, but thank you for asking.

    Look: The story was sourced, stuff happened at the dealership, we reported it as best we could, with the requisite caveats. I'm happy that Andy called with clarifications and some answers and still hope all works out well for the dealership. But so far, I'm not convinced the gist of our story was incorrect. If beating up on me makes you feel better, go for it.

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  13. Pete - will do as long as you report inaccurate news.

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  14. downtown, mainstreet, sixth street= perpetual construction for 5 years

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  15. Sorry i'm up too late.

    make that 10 years or longer.

    there is always some crap going on that is chasing away businesses downtown.

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  16. With all the barriers still standing up in sixth street as of october16th...i guess they just ran the party(?) anyway! As far as art sales goes, most people dont buy art....

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