Seventh Avenue could be in line for improvements after tonight”s meeting of the Columbus City Council.
Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem plans to ask the council to allow $50,000 in Mississippi Department of Transportation funds to be earmarked for infrastructure upgrades along the historic black business district between 13th Street North and Railroad Street.
Karriem”s plans to revitalize the four-block stretch include repairs to sidewalks, underground utility wires and street lighting similar to that at the Riverwalk. Long-term improvements include brick-paved intersections.
The improvements will be undertaken with an eye toward attracting businesses. The area was once a thriving black business district featuring the historic Queen City Hotel before slipping into disrepair.
“I just want to influx that cash into this blighted area. I represent one of the oldest wards in the city and it has been, in some ways, neglected. This is one way to show citizens we want to improve the area,” said Karriem.
City Engineer Kevin Stafford, who worked with Karriem to develop the revitalization plans, said $50,000 won”t go far. Running utility wires underground is estimated at $250,000, but several blocks of sidewalk could be repaired for approximately $15,000 in materials if Columbus Public Works supplies the labor.
Columbus Light and Water estimates the street lights would cost between $20,000 to $35,000.
The revitalization plan remains in its infancy, but it must first be approved by the council. The city will receive the money from MDOT to close the remove the railroad crossings on Eighth Avenue North and Ninth Avenue North.
MDOT is offering the money as an incentive to remove the crossings so the state no longer has to maintain them. MDOT will remove the asphalt, recreate the ditch and lay grass on the area.
The city will dip into the $50,000 incentive to buy road signs signifying the crossings are closed. The signs are expected to cost less than $1,000.
The council will also consider converting the intersection at Eighth Street North and Eighth Avenue North from a two-way stop to a four-way stop due to dangerous traffic conditions, and amending the city”s animal ordinance to ban horses and large animals from being kept in small residential yards.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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