An update on the progress at Crosby Commons and a private development were covered at Tuesday’s meeting of the Picayune City Council.
Work at Crosby Commons to complete construction of an amphitheater and lights along the walking track is expected to be done by mid to late this month. However, City Manager Jim Luke said the park won’t open to the public again until the beginning of October.
Engineer Vernon Moore, with Dungan Engineering, said construction of the amphitheater at the city’s newest park is nearly complete, with only the windows left to install. He expects that part of the project to be completed by next week.
Public Works Director Eric Morris said crews are also working on installation of lights along the walking track. As soon as the lights are installed, Morris said he will be ready to install the memorial benches and trees along the track. The memorial trees are already in hand, and he expects delivery of the memorial benches to take place next week. Once they arrive and the lights are installed, work will begin to form the concrete pads for the benches and install them.
The reason the park won’t open until early October is because cleanup work will be required. Some of that work includes seeding grass in certain areas, Morris said.
In a separate matter, the Council approved a motion to enter into a utility agreement for a development at Stevens Street and North Harvey Avenue. The 16 unit building will cater to senior citizens 65 years of age and older, said Mark Gipson, the owner of the development.
Each of the more than 750 square foot apartments will have one bedroom and a full kitchen and bathroom when it opens in the middle of October, he said. The development came under fire last year from residents and business owners near the new building, citing it was being constructed in a flood zone and would potentially attract unwanted clientele. Gibson said the rent will not be federally subsidized, but will require tenants to undergo an application process, such as a credit check.
“I’m putting a lot of money into this, I don’t want it filled with people who are going to tear it up,” Gibson said.
The next meeting of the Council will be Aug. 15, at 5 p.m.