by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
According to project managers, sidewalk and streetscape improvements in Five Points should be finished by mid-July. Budgeted at approximately $1 million and funded by the City and private initiatives, the project began in January and was originally targeted for a late-2004 completion date.
“We’re obviously very pleased to be so far ahead of schedule,” said Sherry Hall of the City’s Public Works Department. “We’ve been very lucky to have the support of the community and especially all of the merchants in Five Points.”
For months Park Street between Post and Lomax streets was only open to one-way traffic. Parking was also reduced by half.
“Everyone has been very cooperative and we’ve had very few, if any, complaints,” said Hall. “They’re just happy to have their parking back.”
Hall said the City’s $700,000 contribution was earmarked for widened brick sidewalks, street repaving and improved “saw-tooth” parking.
“It’s looking really nice through there,” said Council member Michael Corrigan, who represents the area. “It’s one thing to be on schedule, but to be this far ahead is excellent.
“I have to give some credit to the contractor and all of the other people over there.”
However, Corrigan said a separate component of the plan hasn’t been entirely funded.
Five Points’ merchants originally requested that above ground power lines along Adams Street, primarily along the west side, be moved out of sight behind the Starlight Cafe and Club Five.
Corrigan said that would allow for better sidewalk access while improving the aesthetic appeal in the shopping district. The merchants are also expected to landscape and install trash receptacles along Park Street.
In March, JEA spokesperson Nancy Kilgo said relocation costs, budgeted at approximately $47,000, would be covered by JEA. However, Five Points business owners would be responsible for $120,000 to pay for utility reconnection and realignment costs.
Kilgo said the utility relocation project was “optional” and that it would be revisited after the funds become available.
Those funds, said Corrigan, need to be found.
“I’m very interested in continuing with this,” he said. “We’ve come this far and I’d like to see it completed as we planned it.”
Corrigan said he hoped to find some way to let the project progress uninterrupted.
“I’d like to see if we can work toward raising the rest of the money they need so we wouldn’t have to go back there again in a year or two,” he said. “My concern is that it would wind up costing them more money to do it that way.”