Home LOCAL NEWS HOT increase proposed for Civic Center upgrades, downtown plan moves forward

HOT increase proposed for Civic Center upgrades, downtown plan moves forward

by MyParisTexas
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At Monday night’s Paris City Council meeting, Lamar County Chamber of Commerce president Paul Allen requested a $0.02 increase to the Hotel Occupancy Tax to help fund needed improvement and upgrades to the Love Civic Center. In an effort to bring the facility up-to-date, and increase the “wow factor”, the plans include $1.5 million worth of improvements. New paint inside and out, new luxury floor, renovated bathrooms, and an updated AV system are just some of the planned upgrades.

The City Council gave informal approval to go ahead with the increase, and a formal vote will be held at a later time.

City Manager John Godwin gave an update on the status of the downtown plan.

The Toole Design recommendations are still being used as a guide as the city moves forward with a long list of in-house projects scheduled for 2019. Though the plan is expected to take 10-years to implement, we will begin seeing the early stages soon.

Traffic Impact Analyses are underway for the inside lanes of the Plaza, and to remove the traffic signals for 1st and 2nd Streets at Lamar Avenue.

Expansion of the Plaza 20′ to the east and north will begin, with the rest planned for next year. The first half of the Plaza is to be leveled with stairs extending further down from the fountain.

2nd Street NW/SW and Church Street will be converted to two-way.

Further play areas, mini buildings, and a decorative fence are planned for Market Square.

A tree planting plan has been designed and will be funded through donations.

The City Hall exterior will be cleaned and repaired as the 100th anniversary of the buildings construction approaches in 2020. Other city buildings are to be improved as well.

Landscaping, signage, lighting and other improvements are planned for parking lots downtown.

New sidewalks and bump-outs are planned for a portion of North Main Street, as well as sidewalk replacement on 1st Street, Kaufman, and in Bywaters Park.

Though these projects are to all be completed by the City, future work will require other funding or financing which the City Council will discuss at a later day.

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