Main Street Calera pushing for façade improvement plans

CALERA, Ala. ( WIAT ) — The effort to revitalize Calera’s Main Street has been going on for five years and it isn’t stopping any time soon, according to Calera Main Street Executive Director Jackie Batson.

“We have a lot more opportunity moving forward,” said Batson.

Batson says with construction underway for the Calera Courtyard, another step in the process is making façade improvements to the businesses and utilities in the area.

“We discussed how we tie in the private and the public side of things because we’re trying to take all the power underground, and tying those utilities to each individual business is paramount because you can’t remove the poles until you get the lines underground,” said Batson.

This request would require the city to help with funding that could cost around $130,000.

Following Calera Main Street’s presentation about this at a city council meeting Monday, City Councilor Kenneth Cost says Calera Main Street’s requests are under review.

“I think Main Street will come back to us with a plan on how they want to pursue the work on the existing buildings that are there, and once we come up with a plan then we’ll go through the financial part of it and see what’s best for the city council,” said Cost.

Calera Main Street says they are planning to reach out to each individual business owner over the next week to discuss their façade improvement plans.

Councilor Cost says he believes the council and Main Street will reach a decision on this within the next few weeks.

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