By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – With the recent release of the first draft for the Olde Towne Master Plan the city of Slidell is embarking on two different projects to begin some of the recommendations, as well as throwing in another project of their own.
Mayor Greg Cromer announced that the city would use a state grant to build crosswalks in several of the intersections of Olde Towne, mainly at corners on Carey Street, Cousin Street, First Street and Robert Street.
Additionally, the recommendation from the Olde Towne consultant to upgrade some of the street signs relative to directing visitors to different attractions in the Olde Towne area is also going to be taken on.
The crosswalks will utilize a $200,000 State Aid to Local Government grant and will include red pavers in the road, along with signs directing motorists to yield to walkers.
The city will also be creating what is called “wayfinding” signs that direct tourists or visitors to special areas of the city, particularly Olde Towne and its designation as a Historic District.
“We will put those signs in a lot of locations in the area, particularly at interstate exits so people know where Olde Towne is. We will have big, bold signs at all the exits on I-12 and I-10,” he said.
The signs will also be in town on Gause Boulevard, Fremaux Avenue and Old Spanish Trail, as well as on Front Street to point visitors or tourists into the Olde Towne area.
“It’s going to direct people to that area, and should all be going up very soon since we are making them in-house,” Cromer said.
The city will also be petitioning the state to pay for and erect other Historic District Designation signs on the interstate to do even more.
“I said that when the first draft of the plan came out that we could quickly take on the ‘low hanging fruit,’ or things that won’t cost a tremendous amount of money. That is what we are starting to do,” said Cromer, who pushed for the City Council to approve $100,000 to hire Walker Consulting to create the Master Plan.