Highlights/lowlights of the year have to include a couple of high profile projects. For us on the West side, the opening of
Barry Road at the bridge was a big deal. A whole week went by with
Wildwood-free travel until
Amity Road was closed...back to the hood if we want to take 152 anywhere. Our buds on the East side now get to share the love if they want to get to 152 as well. Winter weather will slow the pace of construction with Barry road east of Eastside and Barry west of Westside looming in the wings. We're already used to the orange barricades and cones that adorn our roadways.
A similar story regarding the entrance monuments, aka,
entrances.
Jim Miller, chair of the
EAGC (
Entrance Advisory Group Committee) announced in January
$250,000 had been raised from 25 individual donors. He saw no problems in raising at least another $150,000. It was thought at the time this would put the EAGC in position to move forward. After one bid opening, followed by a re-bid the project is stalled, with major redesign in the works. Although the EAGC is an official appointed committee of the City, it has had relatively few public meetings...grumblings are beginning to grow as the fumbling/stumbling of the project continue. Sooner or later the
BOA will have get involved. It could get interesting.
Another project started this year is the long awaited
C-Point renovation in two phases. Begun this fall, the old "pavilion" is gone and the new is virtually complete along with seawall and ramps, spring will see the completion of phase I. Hopefully we'll have a wet winter and spring and the lake will get back to full pool. Phase II and the badly needed restroom room and road upgrade will begin in the fall of next year.
Five homes were completed in
WestRidge, with one being occupied. Lots of vacant lots, the economy and home building in general promise to be slow. For the time being the deer still have plenty of grazing opportunities, get up there early in the morning to see them casually cavort.
Crack sealing of the roads was finally begun this year, a bit late for some (Potomac). Despite a "
Five Year Road Plan" on the books, it apparent some major unplanned repairs are going to have to be added to the books
Unfinished business, to be sure..
