Norcross Streetscape Projects On the Way

For many Norcross citizens and officials—including Mayor Bucky Johnson—the stretch of wide sidewalks, classic street lamps and marble planters on N Cemetery Street probably seem like a mirage, even in their construction stage.

The streetscape project, which many have dubbed a new “ gateway” into the city from Buford Hwy, was roughly seven years in the making. And, according to City Engineer Jeff Mueller, that project will likely be complete ahead of the May deadline, sometime in April.

The Cemetery project will extend along S Peachtree Street as well, all the way up to the Carlyle House parcel.

“The idea is to clean things up, make it easier for pedestrians to move around,” says Chuck Cimarik, Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority. “Walking down Cemetery used to be dicey at best,” he added, but now it will hopefully look inviting and strollable, connecting the downtown business area with Lillian Webb Park.  

AbbyGayle’s shop owner Suzy Rankine said that she is all for the construction that has at times blocked her Cemetery Street storefront. “It will be so positive for the city in the long run,” she says.

But that’s not all that construction crews will dig into in the next six months: Another streetscape project will widen and beautify Skin Alley behind the shops on S Peachtree. That project also includes work on College Street and portions of Jones Street.

A 12-foot wide lane of herringbone brick pavers would run along the alley, with the existing pavement still in place for a loading zone for the businesses, according to Mueller and the construction plans.  Wide sidewalks and street lamps would match those currently being constructed on Cemetery.

Johnson said recently that Skin Alley project will be happening sooner rather than later. Since the grant is over six years old, the Department of Transportation has said that an “end is in sight,” according to Johnson. The City has already sunk $200,000 into the project, which would cost about $1 million total, by the mayor’s calculations, with 80 percent of the project funding coming from a Transportation Enhancement grant.

“If we got it done yesterday, they’d be happy,” said Community Development Director Chris McCrary when looking over the Skin Alley plans recently. Mueller says the Atlanta Regional Commission, which is managing the project as part of the Livable Centers Initiative with oversight from DOT, is pressed to meet their funding cycle. Construction is expected by August. 

The demolition of a city-owned building at 54 Jones Street could have effected right-of-way acquisition for the project. At the March 7 City Council meeting, the demolition was approved by council, with a stipulation that Sustainable Norcross be allowed to oversee some environmental demolition practices. 

The possibility of underground utilities for Skin Alley is still being mulled over. “The power lines are visual clutter,” says Cimarik. He says that while most people want the poles taken down and the lines run underground there are some serious considerations, the first of which is price.

Another sticking point for the underground utilities is just how to get Comcast and AT&T to move in a timely manner, even if the funds are secured. Cimarik said he remembers waiting for nine or 10 months to get AT&T to take down a pole when Lillian Webb Park was under construction. 

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” says Randy Hamilton, owner of the shop Good Things, which has a whimsical little garden in Skin Alley, outside the shop’s back door. He said he would be excited to see Skin Alley get a needed upgrade but he’s been hearing a lot of talk for a long time.