Inverness city officials unveiled renderings of planned upcoming renovations coming to the city, renovations which promise residents and visitors a whole new look to two of the city's parks and downtown.
- Plan is to create a new downtown district
- Projects to commence in about 18 months
City manager Frank DiGiovanni says parts of this city are going to look a lot different down the line.
“Now is the time and we are ready to go,” said DiGiovanni.
At the center of the city's plans is a new downtown district. The old train depot will be transformed into retail space, and the old red building next door will turn into an open-air market.
“We will take historic properties, reinvent them and really project the city moving forward,” said DiGiovanni.
Plans are also in the works to redesign two city parks in the same area, redo some roads and more. DiGiovanni says some work will start soon, and the big projects will get going in about 18 months. (See the renderings below.)
“The goal is not to talk, but to do,” he said.
Residents like Rick Spence, who works for a local bike shop, can't wait for work to begin.
“We are excited about the whole thing,” said Spence. “There are so many opportunities this is going to produce."
“All of these things are interconnecting, and they are built around people, and we find that is a successful formula,” DiGiovanni said.
DiGiovanni says most of the projects are being priced right now. He estimates it will take about seven years for the city to complete everything.