Mayor Madeline Rogero, City Council members, City staff and Old City Association members today cut a ribbon to celebrate the completion of two West Jackson Avenue streetscapes projects and almost $2.5 million in upgrades.

The bigger project – totaling more than $1.64 million in federal and local funding – involved sidewalk improvements, KUB electrical relocations, telecommunications enhancements, street lighting and landscaping on the south side of West Jackson Avenue between the western ramp onto Gay Street and North Broadway. (The north side will be completed in the future, in conjunction with the redevelopment of the McClung Warehouses site.) Design & Construction Services Inc. was the project contractor, and Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers was the designer.

The second streetscape project – totaling a little more than $830,000 – involved sidewalk improvements, KUB gas relocations, street lighting and planting of street trees between North Central Street and the eastern ramp connecting Jackson to Gay Street. Southern Constructors Inc. was the contractor for that project, and CDM-Smith Inc. was the designer.

At today’s ribbon-cutting, Robin Easter, President of the Old City Association, said the City’s investments in public infrastructure and the private investment to open new or expand existing Old City businesses and residences go hand in hand.

A new restaurant and gym, for example, are coming to the 100 block of West Jackson. The Crozier, a mixed-use development with luxury condos, offices and retail space at Central Street and Willow Avenue, and Regas Square, a mixed-use project with more than 100 condominiums just across the railroad tracks on Depot Avenue, are slated to open later this year.

“The streetscape has made the Old City more inviting with the beautiful wide sidewalks and planters,” Easter said. “Moving the utilities underground along Jackson Avenue has allowed us to see the beauty of the architecture. We appreciate the love we have gotten from the City.

“For those of us who have been in the Old City for so many years, it is exciting to see the transformation that is happening. Newcomers are excited to find a quirky little neighborhood with beautiful historic architecture and an interesting variety of retail, restaurants, bars, professional businesses and residences. There is always something fun going on down here.”