Flowery Branch celebrated the completion of Phase One of its federal and state funded Streetscape project; Better Hometown Director Dinah Wayne said the $300,000 Transportation Enhancement grant paid for a lot of sprucing up.
"Now we have buried cables, street lights, sidewalks, benches trash receptacles and six green trees, all in the same block," she said.
"It's been a long time coming," City Planner and Project Manager James Riker said. "We've restored it to a level where people can walk and tour the downtown area, draw more interest into the area and tour our Depot Park."
Riker said another $250,000 in TE grant money is coming to continue revitalization and historic preservation.
"What we've talked about doing is extending our project from the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue down Railroad Avenue to Snelling Drive," Riker said.
State Rep. James Mills and former DOT Chairman Mike Evans were on hand and both were credited with helping Flowery Branch get the Streetscape funding.
Mills said Flowery Branch leadership also deserves credit and so do the taxpayers.
"You pay taxes that went into the federal and state government and we work the system to try to get those dollars that you paid to come back to help the community," Mills said.
Evans told his audience he's getting married to State Transportation Commissioner Gena Abraham.
"This is probably my last opportunity to speak related to DOT," Evans said, but added he was not finished with transportation. "I've got too much of a passion for it, there's too many problems out there, but I'll keep fighting for Hall County."
Evans proposed to Abraham last month after a 10-week relationship that led to his resignation as DOT Board Chairman April 17; Abraham was reprimanded by the board for not disclosing it sooner.
Flowery Branch Streetscape
Streetscape ribbon cutting
James Riker
Dinah Wayne
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/6/210733