Proposed Plan For Downtown Square
Unveiled Thursday Night

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

It was a large crowd of interested business owners, city leaders, and concerned citizens that made their way to Sulphur Springs Municipal Building on Thursday night, at 5:00 p.m., to see the results of a "month-long" planning session for the proposed design of the Downtown Square.

 

"It's definitely a collective effort," revealed Ian Lockwood, the head designer of the plan. "We've heard from bankers, lawyers, business owners, historic groups, and individual concerned citizens, throughout the process and have tried to incorporate those concerns into the plan. It's definitely been a collective effort!"

 

 

"And, there were some humorous moments, as you Texans have a definite sense of humor and have 'got' us a few times with your humor!" continued Lockwood.

 

 

Lockwood then began showing the enclosed diagrams of his plan for the downtown area of Sulphur Springs, after the collection phase has been finished.

 

 

 

Lockwood and his team are proposing two-way traffic on the downtown square, a "round-about" at the intersection of Oak Avenue and Gilmer Streets, two-way traffic on Gilmer and Oak, and back-in angle parking in the downtown area.

 

 

Lockwood advised that the plan includes designs for future growth that are certainly limiting factors now. He proposed the removal of a building on the North side of Jefferson Street and allowing a continuation of Oak Avenue, past the square.

 

 

Other features include limiting the "truck route" through the downtown area, only for deliveries and encouraging thru truck traffic to the loop around Sulphur Springs, and other streets.

"We're certain that there will be some changes that need to be made, as the process continues," expressed Lockwood. "But, this is a working model for us to begin thinking toward the re-design of the area, and it will give us something to look toward for planning the future.

 

 

 

 

View these diagrams of Lockwood's proposal, which will be discussed and will eventually be voted on by the members of the Sulphur Springs City Council. Voice your concerns and ideas to your elected representatives, who as it stands now, will be making the final vote on the plans.

 

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