Stimulus Funding for Illuminating Detroit's Landmarks

[Lorax]

Here's a proposal-

How about lobbying for stimulus funding for illuminating Detroit's top 25 (or more) landmark buildings?

Paris had implemented in the 1990's what is called the Great Works Projects or " Le Grand Travaux". Conceived under Francois Mitterand, and largely completed under Jacques Chirac.

What Paris did was to renovate the Louvre, build the new Biblioteque National, renovate the l'opera Garnier, and with the most impact, lit the city's monuments and public buildings in a golden light, consistent in color and hue, throughout the entire city. The Eiffel Tower, Opera House, Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Napoloeon's Tomb, The Arch, Place de la Concorde, etc., etc.

In Detroit we could propose lighting the DIA, DPL, Fisher Building, Cadillac Center, Penobscot, Guardian, One Woodward, CAY Center, Wayne County Courthouse, area churches, Fox, Masonic Temple, Hurlbut Gate and Waterworks Pumping Station, MCS, Ambassador Bridge, etc.

What is interesting about the Parisian lighting program, is that these buildings are lit completely in the round. From all sides, top to bottom.

Yet another economic engine could be created, using state of the art lighting design, and emerging energy technologies.

It would not only provide ongoing jobs, but would be a high-impact visual which Detroit could really use, and would highlight so much of the city's architectural heritage.

Detroit has few assest left, and to highlight them, and turn them into something to see at night would open new doors to tourism as well. The international press would indeed turn a spotlight (pun intended) on the city, and in a positive way for a change.

Thoughts please!

[Pcm]

Lorax, you must be my close friend, the architectural lighting designer...

[SDRdesign]

I like it! I hadn't thought about the lighting until I read this...I guess I'm curious about how to fund such a thing. Some of the great bldgs. downtown could be showstoppers! Even if it was just lit on weekends.
I guess the first thing though would be to make sure regular old streetlights were working, too.

[kraig]

Originally Posted by Lorax

Here's a proposal-

How about lobbying for stimulus funding for illuminating Detroit's top 25 (or more) landmark buildings?

Paris had implemented in the 1990's what is called the Great Works Projects or " Le Grand Travaux". Conceived under Francois Mitterand, and largely completed under Jacques Chirac.

What Paris did was to renovate the Louvre, build the new Biblioteque National, renovate the l'opera Garnier, and with the most impact, lit the city's monuments and public buildings in a golden light, consistent in color and hue, throughout the entire city. The Eiffel Tower, Opera House, Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Napoloeon's Tomb, The Arch, Place de la Concorde, etc., etc.

In Detroit we could propose lighting the DIA, DPL, Fisher Building, Cadillac Center, Penobscot, Guardian, One Woodward, CAY Center, Wayne County Courthouse, area churches, Fox, Masonic Temple, Hurlbut Gate and Waterworks Pumping Station, MCS, Ambassador Bridge, etc.

What is interesting about the Parisian lighting program, is that these buildings are lit completely in the round. From all sides, top to bottom.

Yet another economic engine could be created, using state of the art lighting design, and emerging energy technologies.

It would not only provide ongoing jobs, but would be a high-impact visual which Detroit could really use, and would highlight so much of the city's architectural heritage.

Detroit has few assest left, and to highlight them, and turn them into something to see at night would open new doors to tourism as well. The international press would indeed turn a spotlight (pun intended) on the city, and in a positive way for a change.

Thoughts please!

Is there still time to make requests? I thought the stimulus funding was sent about three months ago?

[DetroitPlanner]

Kraig is correct, a lot of the funding has long been tapped. You're a little late to the table. While some pots of money still need to be tapped, they are very specific pots of money.

Most funding available to improve public buildings is going towards making them energy efficient. How would adding lighting do that? It seems contrary to the goals of most programs.

SEMCOG has a great page that lists a lot of information on the Stimulus package and what is available for givernment projects. http://www.semcog.org/FederalStimulu...teForSEMI.aspx

[Scottr]

While I would love to see these buildings lit up, not only would it go against the goal of energy efficiency, it would create an ongoing cost that would not be covered by stimulus funding. Who would pay the electric bill and replacement bulbs?

[wolverine]

It is possible to illuminate buildings at a very low cost using energy efficient lighting. LED architectural lighting with assistance from photovoltaic cells cost owners almost nothing in powering and maintenance, solving the problems of obsolete systems as scottr mentions. Photovoltaic powered lighting has become extremely affordable in recent years as the technology has improved as well as production techniques. As DetroitPlanner mentioned, conventional practices to lighting up structures for the sake of aesthetics isn't all that environmentally conscious. But today there's a solution, that provides a visual demonstration of new energy efficient technology.

[gravitymachine]

how about money for police instead?

[wolverine]

^ yeah basically that comes first. After all, I doubt a building lighting program would create jobs and alleviate crime.

[izzyindetroit]

First, shouldn't we replace some of the blight on our landmarks before we decide to show them off?

Second, isn't there a city wide movement every October 30th preventing people from lighting up buildings??

Burn baby burn.

[Lowell]

I would like to see MCD lit up like artist Jeff Sturges lit up HP Ford HQ.

[Lorax]

Lighting MCS would be great to draw attention to it's plight. Hell, even giant klieg lights at night would be better than nothing, since Matted Moron probably wouldn't allow anyone on his property to do something constructive.

[Lorax]

Originally Posted by detroitcity

Another topic with a mis-leading title that just leads to you another fantasy that will never happen.

Yeah, lets get money to light buildings that all already have exterior lighting schemes (all but one). Original thinking at its finest

Really? I wasn't aware there were any lighting schemes on any of these buildings, save perhaps the Fisher, which is only the roof.

I'm talking about ground up lighting on all sides, visible for miles in all directions, as in Paris, if you indeed read my original post. No half-measures or dinky lighting schemes, but modern, cutting edge LED technology lighting.

So happy you find my thinking original!

[MikeM]

Originally Posted by Lorax

Here's a proposal-

How about lobbying for stimulus funding for illuminating Detroit's top 25 (or more) landmark buildings?

How about lobbying for stimulus funding for illuminating Detroit's streets?

[MIRepublic]

Yeah, no kidding. Giving the current situation, to even put out there a request for illuminating skyscrapers, right now, just seems kind of insensitive and offensive. If a group of downtown business owners want to do this, fine, great. I'd love to see that. But, this would be gross misuse of stimulus dollars. A noble goal, but entirely the wrong way of going about trying to get it done, if you ask me.

[Lorax]

Insensitive?

I hope you saved some of your umbrage for the City of Detroit and it's inability to light the streets.

Perhaps there should be a little more outrage directed where it will do the most good, at the people who are directly responsible for lighting the streets in the first place.

This thread isn't about street lighting anymore than it's about rat control.

I really love the whining about how any resources or windfalls coming the city's way should be used to fill gaps in local taxation to repair or fix what your tax dollars should be doing.

[Stosh]

I would like to see MCD lit up like artist Jeff Sturges lit up HP Ford HQ.

It's a nice look. Too bad for the rest of the city though.

I'm talking about ground up lighting on all sides, visible for miles in all directions, as in Paris, if you indeed read my original post. No half-measures or dinky lighting schemes, but modern, cutting edge LED technology lighting.

I really don't think that there's an affordable LED with that candle power to light a high rise. And lighting the MCD would be a great idea. It would keep the hipsters away at night. But lighting would probably would allow them to just tag the place further with paint and give them more hours to rip off what's left.

[wolverine]

Originally Posted by Stosh

It's a nice look. Too bad for the rest of the city though.

I really don't think that there's an affordable LED with that candle power to light a high rise. And lighting the MCD would be a great idea. It would keep the hipsters away at night. But lighting would probably would allow them to just tag the place further with paint and give them more hours to rip off what's left.

http://www.warrenkarlenzig.com/2008/...led-make-over/

[Stosh]

Originally Posted by wolverine

http://www.warrenkarlenzig.com/2008/...led-make-over/

Yes, I've seen this before. LED lights lack the candlepower beyond a few stories. The premise held out previously in this thread was to light the buildings from the ground up. This would require a lot of wiring, to do installation of any lighting in stages. And not insignicant is the initial costs of the bulbs themselves.

[kraig]

Here's a thought. Take some stimulus money and light up the city's streetlights. I don't know, maybe I'm thinking too much inside the box.

[Locke09]

Originally Posted by Lorax

Insensitive?

I hope you saved some of your umbrage for the City of Detroit and it's inability to light the streets.

Perhaps there should be a little more outrage directed where it will do the most good, at the people who are directly responsible for lighting the streets in the first place.

This thread isn't about street lighting anymore than it's about rat control.

I really love the whining about how any resources or windfalls coming the city's way should be used to fill gaps in local taxation to repair or fix what your tax dollars should be doing.

Using stimulus money to address budget deficits caused by reduced revenue caused by the economic downturn is already an acceptable use of stimulus money. The state is using it for that purpose.

Other than that, just imagine what criticism Michigan would receive for using stimulus money to light up buildings.

This thread is okay if you're just dreaming. But if you're really serious, then think about what the reaction of the citizens of Detroit and most everyone else will be. Do you hear the sound of praise and applause; oohs and aahs? I don't. They're too drowned out by the accusations of wasting taxpayer dollars, beautifying downtown while leaving the neighborhoods in the dark and elitism (because we thought that was a worthy cause for funding while people are losing jobs and homes).

[Lorax]

That's because you've given up.

All I hear is whining from people who are so damn practical, and look what the city looks like using your metric.

You are either going to be content wallowing in your own self pity, or open your minds to something constructive that would draw attention to, and underscore what the city of Detroit really needs, which is a vision.

All the money in the world for fixing basics, which should be covered by your tax dollars, won't give you a vision to what the future of the city could be.

Lighting schemes aside, this begs the larger question-

When are the people of this region going to wake up and realize they are squandering their greatest resources, constantly carping about how great things used to be, tossing blame around rather than doing something about it.

What ever happened to mass rallies, protesting in the streets?

You could take a page from your parents and grandparents who marched in the 60's for social change, and you may actually get some press on it.

You're all acting like survivors of some great tragedy who would rather drown their memories in self pity and constant naysaying rather than doing something about it.

There have been many positive reactions to this thread, and now the tide has turned to pessimism.

If this blog serves nothing more than opening up one person's closed mind to the possibilities of what can be, rather than what is, then it's been a success in my view.

Geez, we put a president in the White House who exemplifies the power of what can be, whether or not you voted for him is immaterial, the story is extraordinary.

Time to grow up, Detroit, and start assessing blame where it's due, holding your elected officials' feet to the fire and demanding accountability as to where your tax dollars are spent.

Get the lighting commission to light your streets if it's such a big concern to you. You are already taxed for it.

Oh, and by the way, eventhough the state is plugging budget holes with stimulus money, doesn't make it right or acceptable.
That's up to those of you who vote.

[Locke09]

No one is being a pessimist on this thread, yet. People are asserting that there are much more important priorities than lighting buildings. That is not defeated thinking. That is mature and responsible thinking. And that is what has been lacking for so long in this whole country. Wasting money when it is plentiful (or seemingly plentiful) and having nothing in reserve when times get tight.

How about coming up with a novel use for stimulus money that actually does stimulate the economy and benefit the people, preferably in a sustainable manner. That would be impressive.

Oh yeah....and the stimulus money is our tax money.

The idea of the outside lighting is good, just not the use of stimulus money for it.

[Stosh]

Originally Posted by Lorax

That's because you've given up.

Why, yes we have. Thanks for sharing that thought. We are so much better off for that.

All I hear is whining from people who are so damn practical, and look what the city looks like using your metric.

Practicality is what this city needs, not madness. I think a little practicality would actually help.

You are either going to be content wallowing in your own self pity, or open your minds to something constructive that would draw attention to, and underscore what the city of Detroit really needs, which is a vision.

And really, this lighting scheme will underscore what? What Detroit really needs? Better schools? Better government? A tax base that fits the government? Less opressive taxes on the citizens? Fixing the neighborhoods?

All the money in the world for fixing basics, which should be covered by your tax dollars, won't give you a vision to what the future of the city could be.

Well, it don't cover it. 300 million +deficit, on top of the State's clusterf*^k.

Lighting schemes aside, this begs the larger question-

When are the people of this region going to wake up and realize they are squandering their greatest resources, constantly carping about how great things used to be, tossing blame around rather than doing something about it.

Any suggestions that will actually fix the city are more than welcome. We'll nit-pick and rip them apart as they come in, thanks. Can you give some concrete examples of this alleged waste of resources? Your'e more than welcome to come up and run for office if there's anything that you feel that you can steer the region toward.

What ever happened to mass rallies, protesting in the streets?

You could take a page from your parents and grandparents who marched in the 60's for social change, and you may actually get some press on it.

Last time I looked, inciting a riot was against the law in this state. Besides, we still haven't fully recovered from the negative press from 1984's Tigerfest...

You're all acting like survivors of some great tragedy who would rather drown their memories in self pity and constant naysaying rather than doing something about it.

Well, that's because it IS a tragedy, Lorax. Scan the news reports.

[quote]There have been many positive reactions to this thread, and now the tide has turned to pessimism. [quote]

Gee. I wonder why...

If this blog serves nothing more than opening up one person's closed mind to the possibilities of what can be, rather than what is, then it's been a success in my view.

Geez, we put a president in the White House who exemplifies the power of what can be, whether or not you voted for him is immaterial, the story is extraordinary.

Time to grow up, Detroit, and start assessing blame where it's due, holding your elected officials' feet to the fire and demanding accountability as to where your tax dollars are spent.

Get the lighting commission to light your streets if it's such a big concern to you. You are already taxed for it.

Oh, and by the way, eventhough the state is plugging budget holes with stimulus money, doesn't make it right or acceptable.
That's up to those of you who vote.

Thank you, for restating that again!. I think the citizens of Detroit can figure it out on their own. Maybe you could consider a few letters on the Freep and News websites to stir them up a bit. How about the Michigan Chronicle?

[Lorax]

Well, I'm going to apologize for starting this thread.

Obviously the rest of you have done such a bang up job in the ideas department, that you have it all in hand.

You know what the issues are facing the region, and seem to have the answers on how to fix them.

Why is it then, that Detroit keeps sliding down a sinkhole?

The defeatism in this forum is breathtaking.

Someone offers a positive, forward thinking proposal, an idea, if you will, to bring some real visual change to the city, something to be proud of, and all that comes back is whining negativism.

Sure, it's easy to pounce on something new, and to try and find ways to make it impractical, that's the easy route.

However, the Detroit I grew up in wasn't occupied by a bunch of defeatists. They knew how to solve problems, not throw up roadblocks to any new or better ideas getting through.

With the attitudes I see here, it's no wonder Detroit is taking it's final plunge. Even cities like Pittsburgh and Cleveland have done a better job of arresting their problems, moving beyond their old industries, and emerging smaller, yet better places for it. Ask anyone who lives there, and there is renewed pride in being a native of the area.

With the billions wasted on misguided development plans over the years, you can't tell me there isn't funding available somewhere to carry out projects that would provide the kind of visual impact that something like an illumination project would.

People need to see changes happening before they believe it. It that means replacing lamp posts, so be it, if it means twice weekly garbage collection so be it. Snow removal, fine. All well and good, and things that should be done with the taxes collected. If they are not being done, call city hall.

This thread wasn't suppose to be about the dull and earnest day-to-day operations of the city, go to another thread for that, there's plenty of them.

If New York took this same attitude, then I guess revamping Central Park, restoring city monuments, paying for public art installations are all wastes of time, based on what I'm hearing here.

And New York has a collapsing infrastucture, exploding manhole covers, sewers collapsing, problems with trash pick up, the subway is filthy and unsafe. I guess everything else, including expousing new ideas, should grind to a halt in New York until these things get fixed.

And in a city with 11 million people, in a far smaller area than Detroit, New York's problems are only magnified, so Detroit has no excuses.

So I withdrawl my premise, and wish you the best of luck, and I promise to not start another thread.

[MIRepublic]

Originally Posted by Locke09

The idea of the outside lighting is good, just not the use of stimulus money for it.

This is really what it came down to, to me, and I said as much. It's a noble goal, but if anyone wants it they should be lobbying downtown business owners or the Downtown Partnership to chip in to this. The stimulus pot is entirely the wrong pot to try to pull this from for this. Let's be clear, someone like Hines has more than enough money to put towards lighting the top of Comerica Tower, for instance. It's something more than appropriate that efforts be put towards bringing major downtown property to help with the beautification of their own properties. Advocating using public stimulus money to light private property is either irresponsible or short-sighted, neither of which are good things to be accused of.

[gravitymachine]

All I hear is whining from people who are so damn practical, and look what the city looks like using your metric.

yes, damn us all to hell for thinking gimmicks won't save us.

the city has a $300 million dollar budget deficit, fix that and we can talk about some lights.

[Bearinabox]

I'm seeing a recurring pattern on here:

1. OP posts idea.

2. People critique idea.

3. OP has a meltdown because the people who critiqued the idea were too closed-minded and backward to recognize the brilliance of the idea. OP then attributes all Detroit's problems to said closed-minded and backward attitude, condescendingly implying that if only "you Detroiters" (for some reason, the people who start these threads always seem to live out of state) were willing to listen to him/her, all the city's problems would be solved.

4. Reasonable and intelligent people everywhere (who previously may or may not have been receptive to the idea) conclude, on the basis of this meltdown, that the OP is an incorrigible, self-obsessed blowhard who has nothing but contempt for the city and its residents, and who thinks that the reason our streetlights don't work is that nobody ever thought to "call city hall." Whether this conclusion is correct is immaterial.

5. The idea is never discussed again. Its merits, whatever they may be, are rendered irrelevant.

[Blarf]

Waste of money. There are more important things the "stimulus money" can be used for.

[detmich]

Originally Posted by Lorax

Well, I'm going to apologize for starting this thread.

This thread wasn't suppose to be about the dull and earnest day-to-day operations of the city, go to another thread for that, there's plenty of them.

If New York took this same attitude, then I guess revamping Central Park, restoring city monuments, paying for public art installations are all wastes of time, based on what I'm hearing here.

And New York has a collapsing infrastucture, exploding manhole covers, sewers collapsing, problems with trash pick up, the subway is filthy and unsafe. I guess everything else, including expousing new ideas, should grind to a halt in New York until these things get fixed.

And in a city with 11 million people, in a far smaller area than Detroit, New York's problems are only magnified, so Detroit has no excuses.

So I withdrawl my premise, and wish you the best of luck, and I promise to not start another thread.

You do not even have your facts straight.

1) Central Park "revamping" is paid for by the Central Park Conservancy. A privately funded organization. If you want to offer a concrete Detroit solution, one might be to start a Belle Isle Conservancy. That would be too practical I suppose.

2) The Subway is not filthy, and is actually quite safe.Exploding manhole covers? No trash pickup? What decade are you living in? You're about 20 years out of date.

3) There are 8.5 million people in NY city. New York has 304 square miles, Detroit 143 Square miles. Get the facts straight before you start squandering money on lighting buildings.

[Gistok]

Lorax, I like your idea, but think that it would best be handled by building owners, or TIFA financing (DDA?).

The Penobscot Building is a pleasure to behold at night. The Comerica Tower would also be awesome if it were lit up at night (unfortunately deep pocketed Gerald Hines Associates lost the building to foreclosure about 2 years ago).

There are a lot of other towers that would really look nice at night.

And geeze, there sure are a lot of whiny dream crushers on the forum as of late...

Don't let that stop you Lorax (or others) from posting new ideas in these tough times...

Well gotta go... the DYES picnic is now....

[detmich]

Originally Posted by Gistok

Lorax, I like your idea, but think that it would best be handled by building owners, or TIFA financing (DDA?).

The Penobscot Building is a pleasure to behold at night. The Comerica Tower would also be awesome if it were lit up at night (unfortunately deep pocketed Gerald Hines Associates lost the building to foreclosure about 2 years ago).

There are a lot of other towers that would really look nice at night.

And geeze, there sure are a lot of whiny dream crushers on the forum as of late...

Don't let that stop you Lorax (or others) from posting new ideas in these tough times...

Well gotta go... the DYES picnic is now....

Perhaps we could sell old concert tickets on ebay to finance it?

[ndavies]

Why are you advocating more wasting of energy? More coal burned? More greenhouse gases expelled? Why do you want to further contribute to light polution?

[wolverine]

While I disagree with using stimulus money, I still think illuminating downtown would be a benefit.

NDavies, lighting systems do exist that don't use power from the grid, and LED's don't contribute to light pollution. So the environmental issues are off the table if done correctly. Actually as the city of Ann Arbor reported after swapping all their lights for LED, they "make the sky darker," and the updated system costs $100,000/year less than traditional lighting.

It's a shame this topic wasn't structured differently. Downtown landmark lighting is for interested private parties, not public officials and tax money. Additionally, people's perceptions are bogged with dated exterior lighting systems that aren't even marketed anymore.

[gravitymachine]

Originally Posted by detmich

Perhaps we could sell old concert tickets on ebay to finance it?

or legos perhaps

[EMG]

Illumination sounds like a good idea to me - as long as they fund it with back taxes recovered from Ms. $68 Watson.

[Stosh]

Originally Posted by Gistok

Lorax, I like your idea, but think that it would best be handled by building owners, or TIFA financing (DDA?).

If you do it at all, it would have to be owner financed. It's absolutely irresponsible to fund this venture with public funds.

The Penobscot Building is a pleasure to behold at night. The Comerica Tower would also be awesome if it were lit up at night (unfortunately deep pocketed Gerald Hines Associates lost the building to foreclosure about 2 years ago).
There are a lot of other towers that would really look nice at night.

It's very nice at night, I'll admit. While you are looking up at all the impressive lighted buildings, try and consider the lot of Detroiters that are struggling to keep their lights on on their home streets, not to consider their homes themselves. And if Gerald Hines (of the deep pockets) lost his building to foreclosure, consider the lot of the majority of the buildings downtown. Who's paying their bills? We've just scratched the surface of the commercial real estate fallout, I think.

And we're mot even counting the lovely casino's lighting schemes in the overall lighting scenario. Motor City alone will make you blind.

And geeze, there sure are a lot of whiny dream crushers on the forum as of late...

Whiny dream crushers? I prefer the term realists. And quite frankly, it's becoming increasingly difficult reading this board with all the douchbaggery going on. Even if it IS a good idea, perhaps down the road somewhere, it's not going to happen using stimulus money, or city funds, or state money.

New ideas that are capable of being accomplished are great. New ideas that have an unfunded mandate aren't. There's a lot of deferred dreaming going on right now, and not just in the downtown area. The old saying goes, "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride".

I'd prefer that someone would come up with ideas that can be done that will actually help. I wish that I had some ideas that can be done realistically that would help, I really do. If this was 2001, I'd bet that the lighting idea would have been hailed as a triumph, and well on it's way to being done. But this is 2009, State is awash in red ink, Detroit is 300+ million in the hole. Let's hope that the grown ups can figure this out...

[Retroit]

If anyone would like to see a list of stimulus funding projects submitted by their city:

http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state

Perhaps it should be called the Concrete and Asphalt Stimulus Package. I didn't realize that the downturn in the economy was caused by lack of roads.

[EMG]

Well now that explains it! As soon as they fix the roads, people will be so anxious to get out and start driving on them again, they'll head right over to one of the few dealers still in business and be willing to pay top dollar for a new Obamamobile! See, it's all clear now....

[Locke09]

Actually, when you want to stimulate the economy, provide jobs (however temporary) and take care of some things that have been put off for a while, road or infrastructure projects are about the best way to accomplish all three objectives.

[DetroitPlanner]

Originally Posted by Retroit

If anyone would like to see a list of stimulus funding projects submitted by their city:

http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state

Perhaps it should be called the Concrete and Asphalt Stimulus Package. I didn't realize that the downturn in the economy was caused by lack of roads.

That list is old, its more of a wish list than constrained to the actual dollars found in the region. I also have to question why I-275 is listed.

[Jason]

Most of the landmarks that I can think of are already lit up. I agree that replacing them with something better would be good, but I don't think it is an urgent problem.

I think what would be a really good idea would be using new technology to replace the street's lighting systems. Lighting has been a chronic problem. A new system that is long lasting, low maintenance, and produced its own electricity would be great. And that would really be something innovative and progressive, and would improve the public image as well as improve the city. And this is the exact type of thing the stimulus money was meant for.

[Stosh]

Originally Posted by Jason

Most of the landmarks that I can think of are already lit up. I agree that replacing them with something better would be good, but I don't think it is an urgent problem.

I think what would be a really good idea would be using new technology to replace the street's lighting systems. Lighting has been a chronic problem. A new system that is long lasting, low maintenance, and produced its own electricity would be great. And that would really be something innovative and progressive, and would improve the public image as well as improve the city. And this is the exact type of thing the stimulus money was meant for.

Exactly. Not an urgent problem at all.

LED lighting is a great technology that reduces the overall cost of the use of electricity, and maintenance and replacement of bulbs. It's far more appropriate for street lighting, though the light is of a lesser quality in some cases.

I believe that currently the City produces their own power, probably through burning of fossil fuels, with the steam lines a byproduct currently in use to heat the buildings. How one separates the two, and if there's a cost savings is anyone's guess.

That would have been a project for the stimulus money, in keeping with the purposes.