The City of Greenwood has essentially wrapped up extensive facade improvements on several buildings on Long Alley, just off Maxwell Avenue. The properties are all fronted on Main Street, but the rear facades on Long Alley are visible from Maxwell Avenue and portions of Monument Avenue.
Construction on the Long Alley facade project began in May. Design work was done by Furman Architects and construction was completed by Town and Country, both Greenwood firms.
The total cost for the Long Alley facade work was $271,860. It was paid for through a grant from the state Department of Commerce and with matching funds from individual property owners.
City manager Charlie Barrineau said no city funds were used for the facades.
Nine properties received upgrades. Older facades were restored and renovated to add “historical character,” according to the city manager.
Improvements included new windows, new doors, paint, new gutters and downspouts, new light fixtures and new awnings.
The completion of the facade improvements brings to a close a year of aesthetic upgrades in the Long Alley/Maxwell Avenue/MonumentAvenue area.
In February, the city completed work on the renovations to the municipal parking lot that is bordered by Maxwell, Long and Monument.
While city staff and employees of several nearby businesses use the renovated parking lot during the business week, it is open to the public on weekends, allowing for additional parking for Uptown businesses. The parking lot also is used heavily by the public during high profile Uptown events such as the Festival of Discovery, Boo Bash and others.
This year’s facade work on Long Alley and parking lot renovation followed the extensive streetscaping and renovations that have taken place along Maxwell and Oregon avenues in recent years.
“The purpose of all of these projects Uptown is to rejuvenate and revitalize the Uptown to bring in new business,” Barrineau said. “We believe that we have been successful in that area.”