What a weekend! Watkinsville was on display, and what a show.
First of all, many thanks to my brother Kevin and his band of volunteers from Oconee State Bank, who pulled off the 35th annual Scarecrow 5K without a hitch. This race has always had special meaning to me, as I ran my first road race at the Scarecrow 19 or 20 years ago this year.
I'll never forget Shawn Lomanaco and me finding the entry form in the Fall Festival brochure that went home with us from Oconee County Intermediate School (now Colham Ferry Elementary). After trying to think through how far 3.1 miles was (approximately to the Golden Pantry and back was our thought process) we decided we'd try to run. Once our parents were convinced (none of us had ever heard of a "road race" so we had to do some homework in those pre-internet days), we began our pre-race training, which consisted of a solitary 3 mile run around Northwest Woods two nights before the Saturday morning affair. Shawn showed off his superior talent, finishing in around 20 minutes to win our age group. I, unfortunately, finished in 21:47 and threw up at the finish. Faster times were to come, as the core group that ran this race and a few others started the first cross country teams at Oconee County High School in 1990.
Unfortunately, slower times were to come and they did yesterday. But I did enjoy a great run with old high school teammate and great friend Jonathan Murrow. And I also was able to run along with Phoebe as she completed her first ever one mile fun run in 12:47. Not bad!
After that, the family went to the Fall Festival downtown. You couldn't have asked for better weather. I think every kid in Oconee County was there. As always, I saw lots of old and new friends from Oconee and Athens. It was a picture perfect day, and the vendors and attendees all seemed happy despite the fact that we were competing with UGA's Homecoming game. Check out some pictures on Dan Matthews' blog here.
Later that evening, I volunteered with the clean up crew. I am always so thankful and surprised every year by how many people volunteer their time and energy to assist with the Festival -- this spirit is one of the things that makes Oconee County so great. In what seemed like no time, Rocket Field and the surrounding areas were picked clean of trash and debris, vendors were gone, and as quickly as it had arrived, the magic of the Festival was gone. Rocket Field is a bit worse for wear due to rain on Friday, but otherwise, everything looked great. If you have a chance and the inclination, be sure to thank Charles Grimes, Mike Lewis and others at the Chamber of Commerce for their annual labor of love.
After clean up, I picked up dinner for our family. I was struck by the energy that was still apparent in town. UGA fans were eating downtown and basking the afterglow a homecoming win. Teens dressed in their homecoming finery were eating at Mirko Pasta. A special event was being held at the Overlook, and the other restaurants looked full. In short a beautiful evening and all in all, quite a Saturday in Watkinsville.
Showing posts with label streetscape. Show all posts
Showing posts with label streetscape. Show all posts
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Time for County to Move on Downtown Real Estate?
While the economy and real estate market is weak, it should be a good time to pick up key properties for those with strong balance sheets. While I don't always agree with ex-BOC Chair Wendell Dawson, he is spot on in one of his recent posts at Another Voice from Oconee County -- the county should indeed move to acquire as much property adjacent to the existing courthouse as possible if they can negotiate a decent price with the sellers. With most of the properties having sat on the market for 2+ years, there should be some negotiating room.
Bottom line is that with the growth needs forecast for the courthouse, downtown acquisitions make sense. And there could very well be other needs in the future as the library and other public facilities age.
And even if county services don't fill up the spaces, property with sewer located in downtown Watkinsville is about as good a real estate bet as you can make in Oconee right now.
Bottom line is that with the growth needs forecast for the courthouse, downtown acquisitions make sense. And there could very well be other needs in the future as the library and other public facilities age.
And even if county services don't fill up the spaces, property with sewer located in downtown Watkinsville is about as good a real estate bet as you can make in Oconee right now.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Early Morning Real Estate Tips
Since my most recent run in with achilles tendonitis has pretty much ended my long-time tradition of long Saturday or Sunday morning runs, I have often taken to getting up early and going for a walk with whichever one of the kids wakes up first on the weekend. Lately, it has been little Aaron, who is always a good partner for a walk around town, whether awake or asleep.
While walking Saturday, I was struck by the number of improvements and additions that have been made to the residential neighborhoods of Watkinsville. Despite the fact that we review and approve these projects as a city council, sometimes it is tough to see the forest for the trees. So Sunday morning I decided to take some photos and illustrate the trend and discuss it a bit here. All told, when one steps back, the total investment in existing neighborhoods in Watkinsville is well into the millions of dollars and is the equivalent of several stand alone neighborhoods.
There have been essentially two varieties of residential reinvestment in Watkinsville -- renovations and infill development. Renovations are just that -- someone moves into a home and makes it over, increasing property values and updating what is often an historic home. Infill development is when someone buys a lot (or several lots) and builds either a new home or several homes on that lot, depending on what the zoning allows. If you're interested in a smart real estate play in a down market, read on and take a look at the demand for context sensitive homes along many of Watkinsville's most highly regarded streets.
Watkinsville also has a very eclectic style. Unlike Madison, we don't have all historic homes. Unlike Five Points in Athens, it's not all bungalows. In fact, I have always found the architectural variety of Watkinsville one of its most endearing traits. If you're going to build in Watkinsville, we aren't going to require an antebellum home, although we do have standards, especially along our historic and scenic corridors that we identified in the Your Watkinsville visioning process several years ago. But a benefit to infill development is the fact that homes are built over time and help give a neighborhood an established feel, rather than the uniformity that often occurs when all the homes are built in a 1-2 year period.
Much has been made in recent years of the improvements to Watkinsville's older commercial buildings and downtown district (including Ashford Manor and the Chappelle Gallery, which still feature residential uses but also have commercial uses), and rightly so. However, just as significantly (and less noticeable), has been the revitalization that has occured in some of Watkinsville's established neighborhoods over the past four years. Lets look at a few specific areas that have seen the most investment and then we'll see where this trend might go next.
Simonton Bridge/Whitehall Corridor: Several of the historic homes on Simonton Bridge Road have been improved in recent years, and in the past two years the home at the corner of 2nd and Simonton Bridge has been renovated spectacularly (see red home pictured). A new Southern Living home is also under construction between 2nd and 3rd street (pictured). Several other large lots remain on this road that would make wonderful home sites. At the edge of the city, five Southern Living style homes are going in on a parcel that use to house some overgrown brush and a trailer. Numerous other owners along Simonton Bridge take wonderful care of modest but historic homes with enormous character. Not surprisingly, Simonton Bridge, along with South Main and Jackson, were recognized as the favorite three streets of city residents during our visioning process.
2nd Street: This short stretch of road between Simonton Bridge and Barnett Shoals has seen the addition of one spectacular new home (stone house pictured) on a former wooded lot and a great renovation of a small bungalow. These efforts have really changed the character of the street. Along with the eclectic Chapel on the corner and cousin Mack's charming brick cottage, 2nd street is now second to none in terms of charm in Watkinsville. If the Memorial Baptist Church parsonage is ever restored, this will be an amazing little road.
3rd Street: Several wonderful renovations have taken place along 3rd Street, including the restoration of very different styles of homes. Just off 3rd Street sits Pecan Bluff, the only multi-family infill in Watkinsville. When complete, Pecan Bluff will be a standout development. Also pictured here are a board and batten cottage that has seen significant improvements and a brick craftsman cottage flanked by two magnificent Deodora Cedars that has been restored in recent years.
Harden Hill: Harden Hill is one of the oldest roads in the area, being the former stagecoach route between Watkinsville and Madison. Today, it has a wide variety of homes. One is currently being renovated and others have been added through the years. There is currently at least one historic home on Harden Hill that would be a great candidate for renovation.
Jackson Street: The grand dame of Watkinsville, with its low traffic count, beautiful trees and stunning homes. Recent years have seen a beautiful cottage added on what were once two vacant lots (pictured) and renovations to many of the homes on this wonderful street that is a short walk from downtown. A few homes remain on Jackson that could be improved, but many have been improved and sold in recent years, or have been sold and await new owners (and improvements).
S. Main Street: Most of the old homes on South Main remain, and lets hope that never changes. Developers have acquired lots (one tore down an existing home without a permit and still hopes to "upzone" the property), and several other homes were essentially "demolished by neglect" before the city passed an ordinance banning this practice in historic neighborhoods. There has been one neat home squeezed onto South Main -- lets hope there are a few more homes added in coming years on vacant lots on this historic corridor, and that property owners continue to care for the existing homes with the respect they deserve.
So, more importantly, where are the next areas where this trend may continue? The common threads of all these areas appear to be mature landscaping and tree canopy, empty lots, some historic housing stock, proximity to downtown, and a variety of housing styles. These are all themes that the Watkinsville City Council has noticed and is seeking to encourage with infrastructure investments like street trees, sidewalks, and historic preservation.
Streets that might move in this direction in the future include New High Shoals Road within the city limits (one home pictured below), Spring Circle, Barnett Shoals, Lee Street, and perhaps even Water Street (historic cottage pictured), depending on what happens with potential commercial in that area. Another critical factor would be the potential addition of sidewalks along South Main St. and New High Shoals and along Simonton Bridge to provide better pedestrian access to downtown areas.
Another town with some unique housing stock and the potential to see a similar impact is North High Shoals, especially with the new school coming next year and the scenic Apalachee River a short walk from downtown.
All that said, I shoudn't gloss over the challenges of infill redevelopment. Long-time neighbors are often skeptical of new homes at best, and many developers attempt to reach to far and over densify lots that they paid too much for. However, I'm convinced that healthy infill development is an important part of the future of Watkinsville, as long as it can be accomplished while preserving our historic homes and the character of our city. What do you think?
While walking Saturday, I was struck by the number of improvements and additions that have been made to the residential neighborhoods of Watkinsville. Despite the fact that we review and approve these projects as a city council, sometimes it is tough to see the forest for the trees. So Sunday morning I decided to take some photos and illustrate the trend and discuss it a bit here. All told, when one steps back, the total investment in existing neighborhoods in Watkinsville is well into the millions of dollars and is the equivalent of several stand alone neighborhoods.
There have been essentially two varieties of residential reinvestment in Watkinsville -- renovations and infill development. Renovations are just that -- someone moves into a home and makes it over, increasing property values and updating what is often an historic home. Infill development is when someone buys a lot (or several lots) and builds either a new home or several homes on that lot, depending on what the zoning allows. If you're interested in a smart real estate play in a down market, read on and take a look at the demand for context sensitive homes along many of Watkinsville's most highly regarded streets.
The Big Picture
There are two things about Watkinsville that have made renovations and infill a different animal than in other areas. For one thing, we have numerous large, vacant lots that appear ready for homes. Sunday morning I walked past at least six lots that could accomodate one (and in some cases two) traditional homes. The one pictured below is on South Main Street, across from the Golden Pantry.
Watkinsville also has a very eclectic style. Unlike Madison, we don't have all historic homes. Unlike Five Points in Athens, it's not all bungalows. In fact, I have always found the architectural variety of Watkinsville one of its most endearing traits. If you're going to build in Watkinsville, we aren't going to require an antebellum home, although we do have standards, especially along our historic and scenic corridors that we identified in the Your Watkinsville visioning process several years ago. But a benefit to infill development is the fact that homes are built over time and help give a neighborhood an established feel, rather than the uniformity that often occurs when all the homes are built in a 1-2 year period.Much has been made in recent years of the improvements to Watkinsville's older commercial buildings and downtown district (including Ashford Manor and the Chappelle Gallery, which still feature residential uses but also have commercial uses), and rightly so. However, just as significantly (and less noticeable), has been the revitalization that has occured in some of Watkinsville's established neighborhoods over the past four years. Lets look at a few specific areas that have seen the most investment and then we'll see where this trend might go next.
Simonton Bridge/Whitehall Corridor: Several of the historic homes on Simonton Bridge Road have been improved in recent years, and in the past two years the home at the corner of 2nd and Simonton Bridge has been renovated spectacularly (see red home pictured). A new Southern Living home is also under construction between 2nd and 3rd street (pictured). Several other large lots remain on this road that would make wonderful home sites. At the edge of the city, five Southern Living style homes are going in on a parcel that use to house some overgrown brush and a trailer. Numerous other owners along Simonton Bridge take wonderful care of modest but historic homes with enormous character. Not surprisingly, Simonton Bridge, along with South Main and Jackson, were recognized as the favorite three streets of city residents during our visioning process.
2nd Street: This short stretch of road between Simonton Bridge and Barnett Shoals has seen the addition of one spectacular new home (stone house pictured) on a former wooded lot and a great renovation of a small bungalow. These efforts have really changed the character of the street. Along with the eclectic Chapel on the corner and cousin Mack's charming brick cottage, 2nd street is now second to none in terms of charm in Watkinsville. If the Memorial Baptist Church parsonage is ever restored, this will be an amazing little road.
3rd Street: Several wonderful renovations have taken place along 3rd Street, including the restoration of very different styles of homes. Just off 3rd Street sits Pecan Bluff, the only multi-family infill in Watkinsville. When complete, Pecan Bluff will be a standout development. Also pictured here are a board and batten cottage that has seen significant improvements and a brick craftsman cottage flanked by two magnificent Deodora Cedars that has been restored in recent years.
Harden Hill: Harden Hill is one of the oldest roads in the area, being the former stagecoach route between Watkinsville and Madison. Today, it has a wide variety of homes. One is currently being renovated and others have been added through the years. There is currently at least one historic home on Harden Hill that would be a great candidate for renovation.
Jackson Street: The grand dame of Watkinsville, with its low traffic count, beautiful trees and stunning homes. Recent years have seen a beautiful cottage added on what were once two vacant lots (pictured) and renovations to many of the homes on this wonderful street that is a short walk from downtown. A few homes remain on Jackson that could be improved, but many have been improved and sold in recent years, or have been sold and await new owners (and improvements).
S. Main Street: Most of the old homes on South Main remain, and lets hope that never changes. Developers have acquired lots (one tore down an existing home without a permit and still hopes to "upzone" the property), and several other homes were essentially "demolished by neglect" before the city passed an ordinance banning this practice in historic neighborhoods. There has been one neat home squeezed onto South Main -- lets hope there are a few more homes added in coming years on vacant lots on this historic corridor, and that property owners continue to care for the existing homes with the respect they deserve.
What's Next?
So, more importantly, where are the next areas where this trend may continue? The common threads of all these areas appear to be mature landscaping and tree canopy, empty lots, some historic housing stock, proximity to downtown, and a variety of housing styles. These are all themes that the Watkinsville City Council has noticed and is seeking to encourage with infrastructure investments like street trees, sidewalks, and historic preservation.
Streets that might move in this direction in the future include New High Shoals Road within the city limits (one home pictured below), Spring Circle, Barnett Shoals, Lee Street, and perhaps even Water Street (historic cottage pictured), depending on what happens with potential commercial in that area. Another critical factor would be the potential addition of sidewalks along South Main St. and New High Shoals and along Simonton Bridge to provide better pedestrian access to downtown areas.
Another town with some unique housing stock and the potential to see a similar impact is North High Shoals, especially with the new school coming next year and the scenic Apalachee River a short walk from downtown.
All that said, I shoudn't gloss over the challenges of infill redevelopment. Long-time neighbors are often skeptical of new homes at best, and many developers attempt to reach to far and over densify lots that they paid too much for. However, I'm convinced that healthy infill development is an important part of the future of Watkinsville, as long as it can be accomplished while preserving our historic homes and the character of our city. What do you think?
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Political and Transportation News
Some local political and transportation news you shouldn't miss:
1) Paul Broun is claiming that he has saved the USDA's Phil Campbell Agricultural Research Center in Watkinsville. I really hope this is the case, as the center and the greenspace it provides is great for the community. I have not heard positive reports about this from anyone other than Rep. Broun.
2) Senator Bill Cowsert has been named one of Governor Perdue's floor leaders in the Senate. As I said in my earlier post, the level of promise and potential Cowsert has -- and the respect he gets from his colleagues -- make him the easy choice in the upcoming primary vote. While I don't always agree with the Governor and his laid back approach to governing, this is a significant assignment for Sen. Cowsert. Athens paper covers it here.
3) Well, nobody has officially notified the city of Watkinsville (despite our financial participation in the project), but the Oconee Enterprise is reporting that the Mars Hill widening project is moving forward. I have decidedly mixed emotions about this effort. Frankly, I have zero interest in seeing the whole corridor "opened up to commercial development" as the article says. Just what we need: another sprawling route full of strip malls, poorly planned commercial (see the recent Auto Zone and attendant shopping area at Butler's Crossroads for a good example of this) and the occasional subdivision entrance. While the road needs some improvements, the track record of GDOT road expansions ever being viable routes for cyclists and pedestrians (and for having any redeeming aesthetic value) is not good. We have been working hard to make sure the stretch in the Watkinsville city limits is designed and handled in a quality way that respects the existing business and institutions in the community while addressing traffic needs.
Bottom line, if there is one thing Oconee needs, it is stronger aesthetic planning guides governing the appearance of commercial and office buildings on commercial corridors. Extensive landscaping, buffers, brick buildings, hidden or buried power lines, generous sidewalks, street trees, landscaped (rather than concrete) medians should all be the norm for any road widenings. Lets hope "the new" Mars Hill includes these features.
1) Paul Broun is claiming that he has saved the USDA's Phil Campbell Agricultural Research Center in Watkinsville. I really hope this is the case, as the center and the greenspace it provides is great for the community. I have not heard positive reports about this from anyone other than Rep. Broun.
2) Senator Bill Cowsert has been named one of Governor Perdue's floor leaders in the Senate. As I said in my earlier post, the level of promise and potential Cowsert has -- and the respect he gets from his colleagues -- make him the easy choice in the upcoming primary vote. While I don't always agree with the Governor and his laid back approach to governing, this is a significant assignment for Sen. Cowsert. Athens paper covers it here.
3) Well, nobody has officially notified the city of Watkinsville (despite our financial participation in the project), but the Oconee Enterprise is reporting that the Mars Hill widening project is moving forward. I have decidedly mixed emotions about this effort. Frankly, I have zero interest in seeing the whole corridor "opened up to commercial development" as the article says. Just what we need: another sprawling route full of strip malls, poorly planned commercial (see the recent Auto Zone and attendant shopping area at Butler's Crossroads for a good example of this) and the occasional subdivision entrance. While the road needs some improvements, the track record of GDOT road expansions ever being viable routes for cyclists and pedestrians (and for having any redeeming aesthetic value) is not good. We have been working hard to make sure the stretch in the Watkinsville city limits is designed and handled in a quality way that respects the existing business and institutions in the community while addressing traffic needs.
Bottom line, if there is one thing Oconee needs, it is stronger aesthetic planning guides governing the appearance of commercial and office buildings on commercial corridors. Extensive landscaping, buffers, brick buildings, hidden or buried power lines, generous sidewalks, street trees, landscaped (rather than concrete) medians should all be the norm for any road widenings. Lets hope "the new" Mars Hill includes these features.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Kuhlke Appointment Good News for Watkinsville, Northeast Georgia
Often times we tend to focus on the negative in politics. A bit of good news quietly came our way last week as Bill Kuhlke of Augusta was named chairman of the board for the Georgia Department of Transportation.
What, do you ask, does an appointment of an Augustan have to do with Watkinsville? Here's what. GDOT board slots are appointed by Congressional District. We share a congressional district with Augusta (which currently features Paul Broun and Barry Fleming going mano-a-mano), meaning Mr. Kuhlke is actually our representative on the GDOT board.
One of the biggest weaknesses of our region -- and the state -- for a long time has been a lack of transportation funding and effective planning. In recent months, we have had visits from Commissioner Abraham, and now we have a reasonably local chairman in place just as the Governor gets on board with commuter rail and GDOT begins putting together its state transportation plan, led by Ms. Abraham. Over at the Athens Inbox, I theorized that we might finally be in the right place at the right time.
Despite being from Augusta, Mr. Kuhlke has proven to be a strong advocate for Watkinsville and Athens. He has helped us secure significant federal dollars for streetscape II and is showing a strong interest in the currently stalled 441 widening project in South Oconee.
What does this mean? It's probably too early to tell. But rest assured, all politics is local, and the needs of this region -- from the Brain Train to the Bishop by-pass to the 441-15 connector south of Watkinsville to Jennings Mill Parkway to a 316 upgrade -- are a lot more likely to be met when you have local leaders in positions to make things happen. Check out this entry for my transportation wish list and lets hope some of them start to become a reality -- sooner rather than later!
What, do you ask, does an appointment of an Augustan have to do with Watkinsville? Here's what. GDOT board slots are appointed by Congressional District. We share a congressional district with Augusta (which currently features Paul Broun and Barry Fleming going mano-a-mano), meaning Mr. Kuhlke is actually our representative on the GDOT board.
One of the biggest weaknesses of our region -- and the state -- for a long time has been a lack of transportation funding and effective planning. In recent months, we have had visits from Commissioner Abraham, and now we have a reasonably local chairman in place just as the Governor gets on board with commuter rail and GDOT begins putting together its state transportation plan, led by Ms. Abraham. Over at the Athens Inbox, I theorized that we might finally be in the right place at the right time.
Despite being from Augusta, Mr. Kuhlke has proven to be a strong advocate for Watkinsville and Athens. He has helped us secure significant federal dollars for streetscape II and is showing a strong interest in the currently stalled 441 widening project in South Oconee.
What does this mean? It's probably too early to tell. But rest assured, all politics is local, and the needs of this region -- from the Brain Train to the Bishop by-pass to the 441-15 connector south of Watkinsville to Jennings Mill Parkway to a 316 upgrade -- are a lot more likely to be met when you have local leaders in positions to make things happen. Check out this entry for my transportation wish list and lets hope some of them start to become a reality -- sooner rather than later!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Watkinsville Gets Funds for Streetscape II
We received official word today that Watkinsville has been awarded $442,000 to extend its streetscape project towards OCAF, Rocket Field and the Board of Education and along Highway 15. This new effort will likely include new street trees, landscaping, street lamps, and sidewalks in these areas. Along Highway 15, the improvements will run from Barnett Shoals Rd. to Depot Street (in front of Krimson, Athens Seed, etc.)
This is huge news for our little city, as the funds are equal to roughly 1/3 of our annual budget. As visitors to Watkinsville know, our last round of streetscape improvements -- completed last spring -- made a tremendous impact on the beauty and walkability of the city, and were on full display at Saturday's highly successful Christmas Parade. The map below shows the completed Phase I area and what is proposed for phase II.
Most of these funds are federal dollars (distributed by the state) that require a match from the city. Many thanks to State Rep. Bob Smith and State Sen. Bill Cowsert for their support and tireless advocacy on our behalf. Thanks also to the Jaeger Co. for their technical assistance on the plans, and for the images shared here.
Before and after renderings of Rocket Field are followed by similar renderings showing the area in front of the Krimson Cafe. These will be very nice changes for these areas.
Athens and UGA also got $440,000 for the extension of the Greenway. This is exciting news, as an extended Greenway will do nothing but increase use, especially with a closer link to the residential areas of campus. I run with a group of guys who enjoy the Greenway for our Saturday long runs. Full press release follows.
This is huge news for our little city, as the funds are equal to roughly 1/3 of our annual budget. As visitors to Watkinsville know, our last round of streetscape improvements -- completed last spring -- made a tremendous impact on the beauty and walkability of the city, and were on full display at Saturday's highly successful Christmas Parade. The map below shows the completed Phase I area and what is proposed for phase II.
Most of these funds are federal dollars (distributed by the state) that require a match from the city. Many thanks to State Rep. Bob Smith and State Sen. Bill Cowsert for their support and tireless advocacy on our behalf. Thanks also to the Jaeger Co. for their technical assistance on the plans, and for the images shared here.
Before and after renderings of Rocket Field are followed by similar renderings showing the area in front of the Krimson Cafe. These will be very nice changes for these areas.
Athens and UGA also got $440,000 for the extension of the Greenway. This is exciting news, as an extended Greenway will do nothing but increase use, especially with a closer link to the residential areas of campus. I run with a group of guys who enjoy the Greenway for our Saturday long runs. Full press release follows.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 3, 2007
GDOT Announces Transportation Enhancement Funding Awards
ATLANTA – State Transportation Board member Bill Kuhlke, Jr., of Augusta, today announced the recipients of Transportation Enhancement (TE) program funds for Fiscal Year 2008 & Fiscal Year 2009 for the 10th Congressional District.
The TE program is federally-funded and was originally established in 1991 by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). The program was continued by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU) in 2005. The Georgia DOT’s Planning Office manages the TE program in Georgia.
“I’m delighted to announce these grants,” Kuhlke said. “We received a great many excellent applications from communities and organizations in the 10th District. Unfortunately, we could not fund them all in this grant phase. These which are being funded showed great local government commitment to improving their community’s quality of life and their local elected leaders and state legislators are to be commended.”
The TE program’s goal is to enrich the transportation experience of Georgians through specific types of enhancement projects. The kinds of projects funded by the TE program include multi-use facilities such as walking and biking trails and paths; streetscaping and landscaping projects in cities and towns; historic preservation of transportation-related facilities like railroad depots; and scenic preservation of views and scenic byways.
This year, the Georgia DOT received a total of 285 eligible applications representing combined requests for more than $176 in federal funds from all 13 congressional districts. In this selection round, $54.6 million in federal funds are available for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009 for distribution statewide.
Up to 80 percent of the funds being used for these projects have been provided by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with the local government funding the remainder of the total project cost. The local government project sponsor is responsible for implementing the TE project and obtaining federal reimbursement from Georgia DOT.
To aid in the project selection, the Georgia DOT relies on an extensive in-house technical review and the Transportation Enhancement Advisory Panel, which was formed in 1992. The advisory panel group of professionals, representing statewide expertise in the various TE project categories, evaluated each application and forwarded its recommendations to the State Transportation Board for final selection of the funded projects.
The selected projects in the 10th Congressional District are:
• $440,000 to the University of Georgia Board of Regents for a greenway connector in Clarke County – a pedestrian/bike trail across the North Oconee River linking the University of Georgia’s River Trail with Athens/Clarke County’s Oconee River Greenway, advocated by State Senators Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, and Ralph Hudgens, R-Hull, as well as State Representatives Bob Smith, R-Watkinsville, Keith Heard, D-Athens, and Doug McKillip, D-Athens;
• $500,000 to the Town of Grovetown in Columbia County for a one-mile extension of the Euchee Creek Trail from Harlem-Grovetown Road to Reynolds Farm Road, advanced by State Senator Bill Jackson, R-Appling, and State Representatives Barry Fleming, R-Harlem, and Ben Harbin, R-Evans;
• $500,000 to Elbert County for interior renovation of the Rock Gym/Armory which is being converted to a regional conference and welcome center, promoted by Sens. Jackson and Hudgens, as well as State Representative Tom McCall, R-Elberton;
• $238,880 to the Town of Union Point in Greene County for the rehabilitation of a 1962 gasoline station to be used as a welcome center, supported by State Senator Johnny Grant, R-Milledgeville, and State Representative Mickey Channell, R-Greensboro;
• $500,000 to the Town of Demorest in Habersham County for a pedestrian network streetscape project in the vicinity of US Highway 441/Central Avenue and Georgia Street, advocated by State Senator Nancy Schaefer, R-Turnerville, and State Representative Ben Bridges, R-Cleveland;
• $500,000 to the town of Braselton in Jackson County for a streetscape project on State Route 53 through the downtown area, advanced by Sen. Hudgens and State Senator Lee Hawkins, R-Gainesville, as well as Rep. McCall and State Representative Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson;
• $400,000 to the Town of Thomson in McDuffie County for the rehabilitation of the circa 1860-Thomson Depot for use as a community center, promoted by Sen. Jackson and State Representative Sistie Hudson, D-Sparta;
• $442,000 to the City of Watkinsville in Oconee County for the extension of its pedestrian network to link the central business district with the commercial and arts&park districts, supported by Sen. Cowsert and Rep. Smith;
• $600,000 to Augusta State University in Richmond County for the development of a multi-use trail and historical and archaeological interpretative displays through the school’s campus, advocated by State Senator Ed Tarver, D-Augusta, and State Representative Barbara Sims, R-Augusta; and
• $80,000 to the City of Tignall in Wilkes County for the construction of sidewalks and recreation areas being lost as the result of an economic development expansion, advanced by Sen. Jackson and Reps. Channell and Fleming.
Kuhlke said the support of the various legislators listed above was key to their respective projects’ successful funding.
More information on the TE program and applications are available on the Georgia DOT Web site. --- http://www.dot.state.ga.us/dot/plan-prog/planning/projects/te/index.shtml
CONTACT: David Spear – 404) 657-6952
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