Despite delays on state approval, the Livingston Downtown Redevelopment Commission does not expect the planned sidewalk and courthouse construction projects to interfere with the town’s Christmas season.
Chairman Gene Gantt said the city is still awaiting T-DOT approval. One project involves renovating the grounds around the courthouse, which Gantt says has caused some concern in Livingston’s booming retail market. Gantt said that he does not know what is causing the delay.
“All they’ve gotta do is sign off on the, the final ‘yes, green light to go,’” Gantt said, “So if that happened now, then, you know, it would not be good for the Christmas in the Country so, we will have a timeframe to work with and usually that’s 36 months, several years.”
Livingston Mayor Curtis Hayes said the town can wait until after the holidays to begin construction if they receive a notice to proceed later in the year. Gantt said renovations include adding another flagpole, rearranging monuments, and adding seating areas on the four corners of the square. Gantt said a sidewalk construction project is also facing delays from T-DOT.
“The beautification of the courthouse square itself is very important to us,” Gantt said. “We want to keep that as a showplace and the cornerstone of our community.”
Gantt said that in addition to outdoor renovations, the courthouse will receive more modern utilities.
“We need to fix some of the water leakage that may be going into the basement, some of those kind of things,” Gant said. “The electrical system needs some upgrades.”
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