RAPID CITY - A downtown alley resurfacing project could become a more aesthetically inviting pedestrian area in the corridor between Sixth and Seventh streets if two supporters can convince the city of the plan.

Todd Rigione and Walter Albasi want the city to allow stamped and colored asphalt in the alley commonly known as Art Alley because of the murals and random bits of artistic expression painted on the sides of buildings.

The stamping process involves imprinting a grid pattern into fresh asphalt and adding color. The end product looks remarkably like decorative brick paving.

"We came up with an idea we thought was pretty cool," Rigione said. "We've had this vision that we can make this a throughway that would be exciting for downtown and kind of give an eclectic look."

Rigione started Art Alley as a way to replace random graffiti with something more positive.

"If we can make this alley a special place, one the community can embrace, it will grow from the inside out in ways we could never understand," he said.

Albasi and his girlfriend, MJ Adams of the Corn Exchange restaurant, are putting $1,000 toward the estimated $21,000 cost to stamp the asphalt. Though his building, at 725 Main Street, doesn't abut the alley, Albasi is very supportive of Art Alley's concept.

The decorative paving could improve the ambiance of Art Alley and make it a downtown destination, or at least create a pedestrian zone to tie Sixth and Seventh Streets together, Albasi said.

"That Art Alley project - it's a little rough around the edges sometimes, but it's really kind of become almost a cult following," he said. "There are people constantly doing photo shoots, graduation and wedding photos and people doing publicity for music. There are people down there all the time."

The two men started talking about the idea after the city sent notices about next month's alley paving project, wondering if something different could be done. After making a few calls, they were eventually directed to Robert Ellis and Larry Chilstrum in the city's engineering division.

Albasi said those two did research about asphalt stamping and contacted Hills Materials, the alley project contractor. Albasi said it is his understanding that the company offered to do the work at a discount so it could showcase the process.

If the work is done at the same time new asphalt is poured, the estimated cost is about $21,000. However, the cost could be double that amount if the work was done at a later time.

Albasi said the stamped paving will do a tremendous amount for downtown and, in the scheme of things, isn't a lot of money.

"I think it's a bargain basement cost, and they're doing it anyway," he said.

Rigione and other supporters brought the proposal to Tuesday's public-works committee, but he said he isn't looking for a handout.

"We said we're raising money for this, and by the way, do you have any ideas on how to help pay for it, too. We don't know what funds are out there," he said.

The committee made no promises but told supporters to come back in a couple of weeks with a report on fundraising.

Albasi said he feels confident about raising at least half of the $21,000 needed but hopes the city might be able to help pay for the other half if efforts fall short.

"I feel confident we can raise $10,000 in a fairly short period of time. If we have to raise the whole $21,000 it may be a little more difficult, but maybe we can. It's difficult to say," he said.

Council member Deb Hadcock supports the idea but isn't sure whether the council will agree to provide some funding.

"If they have the cash flow to do it, and they're raising the money, and they're trying to make a difference in that alley, what's the problem with that?" she said. "Some people call it art, some people call it graffiti, but I think art is in the eye of the beholder."

Rigione wants to make Art Alley, which he calls the center of his universe, similar to the City of Presidents project. He said he loves Don Perdue's quest to fill the downtown with bronze presidential sculptures.

"The alley has 30 to 100 people walking through it per day, and I would say half those people have cameras. They're from all walks of life," he said. "I feel like as a community, we need to embrace each other and make this place nicer. I grow plants back here; I paint my patio. I'd like to see cobblestones back here so we get more of a downtown, storefront feel."

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com