Hendersonville’s 7th Avenue streetscape project is continuing on its path to completion with the reopening of the Grove Street intersection and an installation of a new sign.
According to a news release from the city of Hendersonville, the intersection and new gateway signage opened just before July 4. With this opening comes the renewed access to businesses on the west end of the project.
Work that is coming up next for the streetscape project includes “extensive” underground utility and above-ground work at the 7th Avenue and Maple Street intersection, according to the release.
To keep the businesses impacted by this construction accessible, traffic will be rerouted.
Parking will remain open between Ashe Street and the closure on Maple Street and informal parking will be allocated along Boxcar Street.
According to the news release, the goal of the project is a “substantial investment” in infrastructure for pedestrian, water, sewer and stormwater. Lighting and landscaping are also being addressed in this project.
According to past Times-News reporting, in December 2023, Hendersonville City Council agreed to pay Harper General Contractors no more than $3,545,936 to complete the project.
The project was meant to start in 2020, but with problems associated with the pandemic and delays in construction and material availability, the project was postponed. Construction on the project started in February after the allocation from city council last year.
Matthew Hickman, who owns Underground Baking Company and is the vice chair of the Downtown Advisory Board, said the project has come with complications, but he is still optimistic about the streetscape project as a whole.
“It’s doing pretty much what we thought it would do,” Hickman said. “It’s going to deter customers for the time being, but we’re really excited anticipating them just getting finished up and be better than ever.”
Hickman said the winter construction made business challenging during that season, but when the Hendersonville farmers market started back up in May, business picked up again.
He said that while the fact that some construction has gone on longer than anticipated is a “disappointment,” his attitude about the project has not changed.
“This has been tough,” Hickman said. “It’s been a challenge for us, but the take-away is just going to be a huge improvement for the district and for anybody using the district.”
The Maple Street intersection has been closed as of July 9. According to the project page on the City of Hendersonville’s website, the project is on schedule to be completed by the end of this year.
Karrigan Monk is the reporter for Black Mountain News and Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her atkmonk@blackmountainnews.com.
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