After years of working through the grant process, the streets and sidewalks in downtown Tallassee are almost new again. Work began almost two years ago to replace decades old utilities and install new sidewalks, lighting and asphalt. The process even saw the city tear down the burned out remains of the Hotel Talisi.
Tallassee Public Works director James Gardner said the projects are finally coming to an end.
“They are looking at somewhere around the end of February being done,” Gardner said. “They have started on asphalt and it is looking good. There is still more work to be done.”
Councilmember Linda Mosher owns a dress shop on Ann Street. The sidewalk in front of her store was torn away to be replaced as part of the TAP streetscape project downtown. She is pleased with the work.
“Downtown is looking great,” Mosher said. “I walk that block quite frequently. If you start on Ann Street now you can see what it is like in progress. But when you go around the block and see what it is going to be.”
In December 2021, city leaders approved a $1,493,925 bid for infrastructure under the streets. It also approved the demolition of the Hotel Talisi.
Earlier this year, the council approved a bid for the streetscape and repaving in the amount of $1,884,752.40. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) provided $1.1 million in grant funding for the project. The city’s match for the grant totals $205,000 but the city is also funding the repaving of the streets.
With the work entering the final stages, Mosher believes the work will make downtown Tallassee attractive to many and not just to shop.
“Get ready because everybody is going to want to come,” she said. “It is better than I could have ever dreamed.”
