Streetscape update from Mayor Edwards

Walhalla Mayor Danny Edwards indicated today that once new asphalt is applied to the remaining two blocks of Streetscape, the project will advance to the stage for planting trees in the medians and on the corners and sidewalks.  Twenty-three Legacy Maple trees are to be planted at the Main Street sidewalks and corner intersections, but the DOT has balked at the choice of Nuttal oak trees in the medians.  So Edwards told the Rotary Club that the city expects word in the next few days which kinds of trees will be acceptable in the median.  The mayor says converting a four-block section of Main Street downtown into a two-lane street will help Walhalla become a friendlier-pedestrian city.  Responding to Rotarian Allen Medford’s question about costs, Edwards said the entire project likely will come in under $2.2 million.  Of that amount, $1.5 million was obtained in grants and allocations by the county’s “C” Fund Committee.  None of the money, he said, was borrowed.