The price of land is steep these days in Kent.

Kent City Council voted Wednesday to spend $58,190 on a sliver of land along Erie Street downtown.

The exact size of the land bought is 0.0126 acres, or less than 550 square feet.

Kent City Manager Dave Ruller told council the land is necessary in order to finish the reconstruction work already under way on Erie Street.

The street reconstruction is part of the downtown redevelopment, and Erie Street will see some massive changes between Haymaker Parkway and South Water Street.

The reconstruction work will widen the sidewalks on both sides of Erie Street in that section to 15 feet while also moving on-street parking from the middle of the road to the sides.

Kent City Engineer Jim Bowling said the small piece of land, which is owned by Paul Braden, is necessary in order to widen the street and sidewalks.

"This is an essential piece of property to complete Erie Street," he said.

Bowling said the city has been working with Braden for months to determine exactly how much of his land the city needed in order to minimize the effect on his parking lot behind Woodsy's Music.

"As well as getting what we need for the street," Bowling said.

The street reconstruction work itself is being paid for in part by two state and federal transportation grants.