The owner of Waseca Music Store, Jim Kozan, also likes the look of the new project. Kozan’s not sure, however, that he will be as enthusiastic this winter when he has to shovel his sidewalk, which will be harder because of the strip of bricks.

Likewise, the bump outs will make it more difficult for the city’s snow plows this winter.

Lieferman said they looked at this issue for about six months before they decided to go ahead.

Archie Johnson, who owns a cement business, is also critical of the project. His remarks, however, mainly concern the work, not the design of the project. “I think the workmanship is very poor,” he said. He doubts the project will bring new business to downtown.

“I think the workmanship is very poor,” he said, citing splattered cement on the sidewalks and storefronts. Johnson said the splattered cement should have been removed immediately because it is difficult, if not impossible, to remove once it has dried.

In response to the problem of cement splattering, Joe Duncan, project manager, said the contractor has been made aware of the problem and that "if it can not be remedied by cleaning it off, if will have to be remedied by other methods." Those methods he said would include either replacement or compensation.

A 50-foot section of the sidewalk where the joints were misaligned has also been replaced, according to Duncan.

Lieferman said he is surprised about the negative feedback, noting the project’s lengthy planning process. A commissioned study done by students from Minnesota State University resulted in a 120-page report.

Downtown business owners also were invited to a number of planning sessions and meetings, Lieferman said.

The Economic Development Authority looked at similar projects in other cities, Lieferman said. The Waseca project closely resembles Minnesota Street in New Ulm, he noted.

In the end, a committee of six businesspeople decided what types of improvements should be made, Lieferman said, and the EDA approved their recommendations.

Finishing touches by the contractor include the installation of streetprints at three intersections as well as the south gateway. Brick outlines will be stamped in the street using a brick tone and sand color to visually tie the sidewalks and streets together, Lieferman said.

The Streetscape project, part of a larger downtown renovation project, is being funded by tax-increment financing. A tax-increment financing district is a designated area that a city sets aside for a certain number of years, during which time the taxes on the increased property value within the TIF are used to finance improvements.

The estimated cost of the project to date is $965,000, Lieferman said, noting the final cost should be close to that amount.

That cost does not include the interest on the total $1.1 million bond issued in 2005.