City Receives Commercial Revitalization Grant

Much of the City’s commercial district will receive a $700,000 facelift thanks to a recent federal grant to improve the appearance, function, and safety of the town’s commercial areas that fall within the town’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA).

The CDBG grant will be used to improve the general appearance of Market Street from the foot of the bridge through town with sidewalk improvements, lighting, and landscaping. The grant will also construct public restrooms across from the Riverfront Park near downtown stores and high traffic pedestrian areas on Commerce Street. Other improvements include extending a sidewalk along Water Street and installing decorative lights, planting of trees, underground utility relocation, and the construction of benches and placement of trash receptacles throughout the area.

The grant was initiated by the City’s newly activated Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board. The CRA board, headed up by Apalachicola resident Dieter Ambos, was activated in 2010 as a funding vehicle to help revitalize targeted areas of the City. The grant is the CRA’s first large-scale project. It is expected that the grant activities will benefit local residents as well as tourists looking for pedestrian-friendly amenities such as bathrooms, benches, and trash receptacles.

Most of the improvements will be confined to a project area beginning in front of the Franklin County courthouse on Highway 98/Market Street and extending north along Market Street to Avenue G, east to the Riverfront along Waterstreet and west to 4th Street. Along with the sidewalk construction on Market Street near Avenue D, there will be a reconfiguration of on-street parking. Striping will provide five additional on-street parking spaces.

A separate smaller project area is located on 8th street between Avenue E and F. This area includes a portion of an originally platted city square which will be location of a new information kiosk. Historically considered the entrance to the City’s African-American commercial district, the kiosk will provide area information.

Initial construction on the commercial district projects is scheduled to begin this summer. A series of workshops soliciting public opinion on design aspects and details will be held late spring. For more information, please contact Betty Webb, City Administrator 850/653-8222.