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Monroe reveals Mill Village District plan
Published February 7, 2010
MONROE — A look at how the city’s mill village could look in years to come was unveiled late last month.
The Master Plan for the Walton Mill District was revealed to the Council during a Jan. 23 meeting in Atlanta — showing improvements to the city’s streetscapes, walking trails and parks and an amphitheater located south of the current downtown business district.
For decades the mill village was occupied with cotton mill workers, but the mills are no longer in operation, opening the door to renovation and commerce.
The $5.4 million project will transform the mill village into an area with leisure and entertainment possibilities, something city officials hope will help the city grow.
The project will be funded by monies obtained through programs like the Transportation Enhancement Program and the Livable Centers Initiative, among others.
City officials say the first priority is to take care of streetscape improvements south of the current downtown to Walker Street using TE Program funds totaling $500,000 as well as $250,000 in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds.
“We are excited to have the opportunity through the use of the Transportation Enhancement Program to expand our downtown area,” Mayor Greg Thompson said. “By developing a master plan, the council is able to provide a vision that we as a community can work on in the coming years. The ultimate goal of the TE Program is to reduce traffic and make our community for accessible for pedestrian traffic.”
Created by designers Keck & Wood Inc., the project calls for 10 elements with estimated costs:
•Broad Street Streetscape (phase 1) — the west side of Broad Street from 2nd Street to Alcovy, $900,000.
•Broad Street Streetscape (phase 2) — east side of Broad Street from 2nd Street to Alcovy Road, $1 million.
•South Madison Streetscape — west side of South Madison Avenue from East 5th Street to Davis Street, $1 million.
•Walker and Mears Streetscape — north side of both streets, $350,000.
•Davis Street Streetscape — south side from Broad to South Madison Avenue, $250,000.
•Mill Street and East 5th Street — one side from Radford to East 5th Street, $150,000.
•Trail — in railroad corridor from East Fifth Street to Church Street and spur to Broad Street, $350,00.
•Trail lights, $300,000.
•Mears Street Park, $750,000.
•Amphitheater, $350,000.
The council is expected to approve the initial concept for the first phase at the March Council meeting. The rest of the project is expected to be addressed when other funding possibilities are realized.
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