Magnolia residents could begin seeing work on the city’s depot and downtown restoration projects in the spring, Mayor Melvin Harris said Monday.
“The information I’ve been getting from some of the people connected with the projects is that we could see work begin within the next 60 to 90 days,” the mayor said during a work session of the board of aldermen.
Harris’ comments came during discussion of a request by South Pike Area Chamber of Commerce President Jimmy Harris that the city participate with the chamber in buying signs telling residents about the city’s projects.
He wants the city to contribute $500 toward the signs. The chamber, he said, also is contributing $500.
The aldermen are expected to vote on the request when they meet today at 5:30 p.m.
“What we want the signs to do is let people know what’s going to be happening here in the near future,” Jimmy Harris said.
“And that Magnolia is growing. We’ve got a lot of good things happening around here with the work on the depot and the downtown area, the relocation of the (Magnolia) village and the opening of the antique mall,” Jimmy Harris said.
He said news of the changes in the city have attracted interest, and people have called him about the abandoned buildings in the city’s downtown area.
“This work will be an economic development attraction for the city,” Harris said. “We want people to come to Magnolia and open businesses.”
Magnolia’s depot and downtown revitalization projects are funded by two state grants. The revitalization project will improve lighting and sidewalks in the area, including the park around the depot.
The estimated $700,000 grant for the depot will cover the cost of renovations and improvements to the building, turning it into a community center with meeting rooms. City Hall is expected to relocate to the depot after the project is completed.
“Once all of the work is done,” Magnolia’s downtown area will be well-lighted and a safe place to walk at night, the mayor said.
He also highlighted two other projects in the city, telling aldermen that site work has begun for the Family Dollar store at the corner of Bay and Clark streets, and work continues at the Love’s Travel Center site on Airport-Fernwood Road on the west side of Interstate 55.
Magnolia annexed the Love’s property in early 2008 and is providing sewer service to the business, which is located across the street from the Fernwood Truck Stop at the Fernwood exit on I-55.
“That building is going up fast,” the mayor said. “They’re out there welding at night. If you drive by, you can see the light from the torches — there’s a few guys out there welding.”
Mainstream Partners of Fort Smith, Ark., bought the property at Bay and Clark streets for the Family Dollar Store in November, forcing the relocation of the Magnolia Village. No date has been given for the store’s opening.
The village’s buildings were moved to a vacant lot downtown across from the depot in late December, and crews are working on the buildings to get them leveled and ready for utilities.
Jimmy Harris said he was expecting to have his restaurant, The Magnolia Food Co., open in time for the town’s Mardi Gras festival on Feb. 21. Other buildings are expected to reopen in late spring.“They’re out there welding at night. If you drive by, you can see the light from the torches — there’s a few guys out there welding.”
Mainstream Partners of Fort Smith, Ark., bought the property at Bay and Clark streets for the Family Dollar Store in November, forcing the relocation of the Magnolia Village. No date has been given for the store’s opening.
The village’s buildings were moved to a vacant lot downtown across from the depot in late December, and crews are working on the buildings to get them leveled and ready for utilities.
Jimmy Harris said he was expecting to have his restaurant, The Magnolia Food Co., open in time for Magnolia’s Mardi Gras festival on Feb. 21. Other buildings are expected to reopen in late spring.
