In addition to expressing appreciation to the N.C. Department of Transportation for funding a $146,000 TEA-21 grant for improvements to Mill Street, SPIR design committee chairman Odell Thompson gave credit to the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center for awarding the organization a $25,000 grant, which funded the above master plan. The sketch, which was designed by Barge, Waggner, Sumner and Cannon of Knoxville, Tenn., illustrates long-range plans for the area, including a bridge over Scotts Creek to connect the downtown area with Poteet Park, beautification and safety improvements to the Mill Street area, and public rest rooms. A more detailed view of the plan is available for public inspection at Sylva Town Hall.
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Sylva officials learned last week they've been successful in their pursuit of a $146,000 Department of Transportation enhancement grant. The grant, known in the DOT vernacular as a TEA-21 grant, will allow the town and Sylva Partners in Renewal, the downtown revitalization organization, to install a pedestrian bridge across Scotts Creek, connecting Poteet Park and the swimming pool with the town parking lot and downtown, said Sylva Manager Richard McHargue. "The grant will also be used to enhance the street, sidewalks and landscaping in the Mill Street area," he said. TEA-21 enhancement project grants are unique in that they fund innovative and creative road improvements that aid in transportation management while furthering a town's vision for economic and community development, McHargue said. During tough fiscal times and given the decreased amounts available through TEA-21 this year, this award is particularly exciting for Sylva, he said. Once the grant is accepted, the town will be required to provide a 20 percent match. These funds, McHargue said, will most likely come from funds leftover after the Main Street revitalization project. "SPIR is delighted to have been granted this funding request from the DOT," said organization President Russ Seagle. "This says a great deal about the value the DOT places on the improvement of our downtown." The award also says a lot about the confidence the DOT has in the town of Sylva and SPIR to make the best use of these funds, Seagle said. "We can all be proud that the DOT placed such a high priority on this project," he said. "It's definitely a worthy one." Once the project gets started, which must wait until contracts documents are drafted and approved by all involved, those in Sylva will notice work to widen the sidewalks and street to make them more like Main Street, SPIR design committee Chairman Odell Thompson said. Improved materials, including brick-like features, will be used on the street to serve as crosswalks and to slow down traffic, he said. "Of course, the bridge will be the highlight of the project," said Thompson, who indicated that close cooperation between Sylva and SPIR would be essential to ensure Phase I work and other projects are completed in tandem. "We might be wasting money if we don't do them all at the same time," Thompson said. "We are excited about the aesthetic potential on Mill Street, and we're excited about making a connection between the downtown area and a beautiful, popular public park," Seagle said. "This connection is sure to increase the value of the downtown experience for locals and tourists alike." SPIR and town officials will be working on a timetable for the project, "but I think we'd all agree that we're ready to get moving as soon as possible," Seagle said. |