A city project to spruce up downtown Florence will get under way in June.
Mayor Jim Suttle and City Councilman Pete Festersen, speaking at a Friday morning press conference, announced the upcoming start of a project long-awaited by Florence community boosters.
The $575,000 renovation will include new landscaping, new, decorative sidewalks and added parking along the two-block stretch of 30th Street from Clay to Willit Streets.
City and community leaders hope to eventually upgrade the sidewalks along a 12-block stretch of 30th Street.
"This is just the start," said Connie Rose, president of the Florence Futures Foundation and owner of Florence business Prairie Piecegoods, where the press conference took place.
Suttle floated the idea that the city could undertake so-called "streetscape" projects at a number of historic business districts throughout the city, including Benson, Park Avenue in midtown, along Vinton Street in south Omaha, downtown Elkhorn, Millard and a continuation of the Florence work.
Suttle said that's an option the city is considering if the Legislature approves a bill to grant cities extra sales tax authority with voter approval. Suttle said the city could ask voters to fund improvements in those business districts.
Festersen, who represents the Florence area, said the initial two blocks chosen for the project are a critical part of Florence. Festersen said the ultimate goal is to encourage economic development, draw private investment, attract new businesses and create jobs.
The project will add parking along side streets and along 30th Street. At a number of corners, the sidewalk will be bumped out toward the street, which the city hopes will slow traffic through the area.
Along the sidewalks, the landscaping will have special "bioswales" to collect water runoff from the sidewalks.
Mele Mason, a Florence community leader, said the community is excited to show off its business district as a gateway to Omaha. The sidewalk project, she said, will show how viable Florence is.
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