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By Rose Hooper
"Phase II is finally falling into place," Sylva Partners
in Renewal administrator Linda Gillman said of the downtown redevelopment
master plan.
Money is now available to purchase construction documents for
the Scotts Creek Crossing element of the Mill Street Streetscape
Improvements Plan.
"Thanks to a $7,500 Civic Ventures Fund Grant through the
N. C. Rural Economic Development Center, and $2,000 raised through
other initiatives, Sylva Partners in Renewal was able to deliver
$9,500 to the town of Sylva," Gillman said.
A $10,000 Jackson County governmental grant awarded for the project
will bring the total to $19,500.
"That amount will be appropriated for planning and engineering
fees," said Gillman, who added that the firm that will complete
the documents has not yet been determined.
"SPIR is excited about this step as it definitely means that
we are one step closer to Phase II," she said.
The plans will detail a pedestrian bridge over Scotts Creek that
will connect the Railroad Avenue parking lot and Poteet Park.
Meanwhile, Gillman said the Greenways Commission is applying for
a grant to construct the bridge.
"We don't know yet if it will be the pre-fab kind of bridge
that you just drop in," the SPIR administrator said.
"But we do know that it will have to be handicap accessible.
"It has been quite a long wait between projects, but we are
so pleased to move the project forward in 2004. It's a great way
to start the New Year," said Gillman.
For more information, call 586-1577.
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