Mayor: Downtown is work in progress

By By Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
With work proceeding on the downtown renovation project, Mayor Dwight Tankersley is asking people to wait until they see the final product before they make a judgement on the changes.
Work on the downtown renovation began in September with the old flat-roofed metal awnings being replaced by slanted, off-white ones. The old awnings were black and officials feel the new color will age better.
Workers are now in the process of installing the curb planters.
Tankersley said he’s received comments in relation to the planters interfering with traffic flow. However, he said, the space people are seeing is for the entire footprint of the planters, including curbing. The planters will be on “D”-shaped islands and each will have a decorative light pole.
All the plans were approved by the Alabama Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the federal grant that is funding the project.
In the last several weeks, portions of Main Street through downtown have been closed to accommodate the work. Business owners have also seen their storefronts covered by boards to allow the awnings to be constructed.
Tankersley said he thinks the finished project warrants the disruption.