TCC approves grant application for proposed Tugalo Street Parking Lot redeveloping
Pictured is the rendering of the proposed redeveloped Tugalo Street parking lot.
The Toccoa City Commission approved a grant for Tugalo Street Parking Lot Redevelopment during its meeting on Monday.
According to City Manager Billy Morse, the grant is through the Georgia Council for the Arts Community Facilities Grant.
He explained that the Downtown Development Authority had originally presented a plan to redevelop the Tugalo Street parking lot into a green space area.
“You may remember, the Downtown Development Authority presented a goal to the City Commission to redevelop the downtown Tugalo Street parking lot into a green space, to provide beautification upgrades for the Historic Downtown District. In July, of this year, the Georgia Council for the Arts announced availability of a new grant fund, which provides the opportunity to upgrade or rehabilitate existing community spaces for community development purposes. The DDA hopes to utilize this grant to fund the redevelopment of the Tugalo Street Parking lot into a parking lot green space combination,” he said.
Morse says multiple downtown business owners have expressed support for the project.
“The DDA has unanimously expressed approval of the redevelopment concept and multiple downtown business owners have expressed support. The total project cost is estimated at $150,000 with the grant providing $75,000 of that funding,” he said.
Mayor Evan Hellenga says this will be great for Toccoa’s downtown area.
“I think that will be great for our downtown area. And it’s so good that we’ve got buy-in from so many businesses downtown,” Hellenga said.
Commissioner David Austin says Hammock Realty has agreed to help raise funds to cover the city’s portion of the project cost.
“I want to recognize Hammock Realty, they’ve said they are willing to help raise some funds for it, so we appreciate that,” Austin said.
Vice Mayor Jeanette Jamieson made a motion approving the grant application with Commissioner Gail Fry seconding the motion.
The motion was approved 4-0 with Commissioner Terry Carter being absent.