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Highlands Today

How To Spruce Up Downtown Sebring?

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: October 24, 2007

Although the downtown Circle and its surrounding streets could use some sprucing up, officials say they don't have plans to mess with a good thing.

As the Community Redevelopment Agency members started to plan Streetscape IX at Monday's meeting, they decided to make some small changes for aesthetic purposes and fix some ongoing problems.

"From working with a lot of communities, I can tell you, you have a very successful CRA," said Jack Breed, of Keith and Schnars, the planning firm handling the project. "You have a historic foundation that you are trying to redevelop, and I think a few things can be done to spruce it up, but I wouldn't recommend any major overhauls."

Money will likely be the biggest factor in deciding how to proceed with the project, which will include the Circle and the six radial streets between the Circle and Wall Street.

Pollard said he expects the city to qualify for $750,000 through a community development block grant. This grant, however, cannot be used for repairs to Wall Street because it is not a pedestrian walkway, Pollard said. Funds for Wall Street will likely come from local tax-increment financing.

Although it won't be covered by the grant, CRA members said the poor condition of Wall Street is definitely an issue they want to address. The street functions as an alley allowing rear access and parking for businesses and residences along the Circle. Wall Street was once all brick and has since been patched over with asphalt.

Some CRA members expressed interested in restoring the brick street, but Breed said that would be "staggeringly expensive." The bricks could be restored and used to accent the sidewalk around the Circle.

Using stamped concrete or textured asphalt are alternative options to give the street more character, Breed said.

Pollard said if CRA members want to complete the pricey refurbishing of the bricks of Wall Street, they can break the project into smaller pieces and complete one every few years.

Curbs will likely be replaced all around the Circle. Even though in some places, the curbs function properly, CRA member said they want them to be consistent around the Circle.

Gene Brenner and Jim Rimer, CRA members and owners of businesses on the Circle, said they want to see the drake elm trees removed from the Circle.

"They are a huge mess," Rimer said.

"And several merchants complain that they block their signage," Brenner said.

They would like to see these trees replaced with another species, likely a palm.

Irrigation also will be added to all landscaping during the streetscape project, Pollard said.

Florida Department of Transportation also is working on a $3-million project to repave Ridgewood Drive through the Circle, replace asphalt, fix assess ramps, do minor signage rehabilitation and striping. The project is planned to be bid in 2009 and completed in 2010 if funds are available.

Pollard said the city will coordinate its project with the state and will save money by using some of the state's engineering surveys.

The grant for Streetscape IX will likely be awarded in April of 2008.

Meanwhile, CRA staff is negotiating a contract for service with Keith and Schnars.

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