Takoma Park Kicks Off Flower Ave Green Street Project With Community Meeting

Flower Avenue is getting a makeover and every resident affected will have a hand in the process, city officials said at a community meeting for the project Wednesday night.

"We're going to go property-by-property," Takoma Park Deputy City Manager Suzanne Ludlow said. "This will be a one-on-one process."

The city recently took over the road from the state and annexed the sidewalk on the side of the street that was owned by the county. The annexation first came up when the state found out it didn't own parts of 410 in Takoma Park and suggested . 

The major renovations that will make Flower Avenue a green street include a sidewalk that promotes walkability and proper storm water drainage, which the street currently lacks.

And in news to taxpayers' ears, very little city money will be spent on greening Flower Avenue. The city has about $1 million on hand for the project most of which came from the State Highway Administration. The Chesapeake Bay Trust awarded Takoma Park $20,000 to help with storm water management, Ludlow said.

The city will put out a call for bids for design firm by September or October and design plans should be drawn up by spring 2012, Takoma Park Public Works Director Daryl Braithwaite said.

There will be many more community meetings and the city is willing to come out and talk to any resident who needs more information on the project or who has concerns, Ludlow said.

"There will be more community meetings than you can stand," she said.