Granada makeover: Part 2 Sidewalks, medians next stage in $1 million renovation

Traffic zips past the revitalized medians on Granada Boulevard this week. Ormond Beach commissioners signed off last month on the second phase of the project that will cover a stretch from Orchard Street to State Road A1A.

A nearly $1 million effort to revitalize medians and sidewalks along another portion of Granada Boulevard marks the second phase of a project to refurbish Ormond Beachs main thoroughfare.

City commissioners approved a $939,400 project last month to landscape medians and sidewalks along Granada from Orchard Street to State Road A1A. The majority of funding comes from the Florida Department of Transportation. The Granada bridge slopes are also included in the project.

The new designs will mirror the landscaping on Granadas medians that was completed last year from Washington to Beach streets. The city also installed an irrigation system, LED lights and buried power lines along Granada, Lincoln and New Britain avenues.

In addition to landscaping medians, the city will also remove east Palatka holly and crepe myrtles along Granada and replace them with palm trees. City landscape architect Paul MacDonald said the trees are blocking the windows and signs of businesses, and the palm trees will alleviate that problem because they will be higher. Grates surrounding the trees along the sidewalks will also be removed to make the sidewalks more pedestrian-friendly, MacDonald said.

The project is expected to begin in March and end in October. The tree-planting will require the city to close one lane on Granada after 7 p.m. on a few occasions.

The city also plans to spend $39,000 for a new irrigation system from its downtown trust fund. The total cost of all the work is $4 million to $5 million, MacDonald said.

The goal of this project is to make downtown more walkable and business-friendly, he said.

Doug Rand, owner of Billys Tap Room on Granada, said he was in favor of any project that would bring more visitors downtown. Adequate parking, however, may be a future issue that the city will need to address.

I think its going to be good for everyone down the road, he said about the upcoming construction. The quicker they can get it done, the better it will be for everyone.

View post:
Granada makeover: Part 2 Sidewalks, medians next stage in $1 million renovation