North Lee Street sidewalks should be fixed by summer

By Emily Ford

eford@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Sidewalk and street improvements on North Lee Street should wrap up by July and will attract more development in the Railwalk District, officials say.

The city has been working to revitalize the area for more than 10 years.

The state will pick up the $290,000 tab to replace crumbling, narrow sidewalks this spring in the 300 block that have threatened to derail economic development.

“Despite this slow time in the economy, this project continues to generate very good ideas from arts groups and entrepreneurs,” said John Ketner, co-founder of Rowan Investment Co., the lead private developer in the area. “Once we get this done and the economy recovers, we are going to see some very exciting things happening.”

The City Council heard an update on the project Thursday during a strategic planning retreat.

Rowan Investment Co. owns most of the private property in the Railwalk area and kicked in $27,000 in 2009 to help the city tackle the nuisance overhead power lines, which cost $110,000 to bury.

Anchored by the Salisbury Police Department and featuring a row of renovated warehouses, the 300 block of North Lee Street is strategically located and has attracted several businesses, City Planner Lynn Raker said.

The number of jobs in the area has more than doubled, thanks in large part to Integro Technologies, which jumped from six to 18 employees and has outgrown its facility and soon will move.

Changes will include:

• Widening the sidewalk on the east side of the street by 3 feet

• Adding sidewalks to the west side of the street

• Raising granite curbs to 6 inches

• Improving drainage

• New driveway surfaces

• Crosswalk in the middle of the block

• Pedestrian-scale lighting

• Street trees

• Electrical power sources (for holiday decorations, etc.)

• Mast arm on east side at Kerr Street

• Trash cans, bike racks

Once the N.C. Department of Transportation approves the plan, the city will bid the project and construction should start in late spring and take 90 days, Raker said.

Councilman Brian Miller praised city staff for being “extremely opportunistic” in finding money for the project in a tough economy.

The City Council allocated only $15,000 for the project last year. Raker landed the majority of the funding through the N.C. Board of Transportation and the Statewide Contingency Fund, with help from N.C. Rep. Harry Warren.

The project is an example of the City Council setting a goal and city staff working incrementally to achieve it, Planning Director Joe Morris said.

Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.