LULA - The city of Lula is making steady progress on a seven-phase streetscape project for the historic downtown area, and city council learned Monday night that Phase III should be finished in the next couple of weeks.<br />
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City Manager Dennis Bergin confirmed Tuesday morning that the third phase should come in right at the $167,000 budgeted for this portion of the project.<br />
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"We're in good shape," said Bergin. "There are some cost overruns - some of those can be anticipated. We actually built in a contingency on the bids that we got on this. We built in a contingency of $13,500."<br />
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Bergin said Phase III, which began on October 13, is two-pronged.<br />
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"One, it extends the new sidewalks and some of the fixtures that go along with the sidewalks - some planters, those type of things - and parking," said Bergin.<br />
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"It also...to continue development, we had to put in all new drainage on the back side to take care of where we're putting in new curbs and gutter and sidewalks. So, some of it is unseen and some of it is pretty as can be, and you can walk on it!"<br />
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Bergin said the entire project began four years ago when the city constructed its Veterans Park. He said the complete renovation of the downtown area should be finished in the next three to four years, as money becomes available for each phase.<br />
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Bergin pointed out that Phase IV should actually have been done in 2014, but part of the funding was to come in the form of federal transportation improvement dollars - that hasn't happened yet.<br />
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"They've delayed funding that until August of 2015," said Bergin.<br />
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Once that money is in hand, however, redevelopment will begin from the Veterans Park north to Lula Elementary School. <br />
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In the meantime, Bergin pointed out that Lula is completely decorated for Christmas, and the city invested in more lights for the season.<br />
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"The city reinvested in their holiday decorations, so not only do you get new sidewalks, but you also get new Santa Clauses and reindeer - it's wonderful!"<br />
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