165 South business connector nears construction stage
Posted:
Updated:
Sep 24, 2012 06:32 PM
By Victoria Shirley
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The efforts to improve the road leading to Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo have been a long time in the making. As we first reported in July, city leaders told us they were about to begin the last step of the planning process and Monday we checked into their progress.
Phillip Jackson planted this tree and the shrubbery around it, nearly a half century ago when he first moved into his home. Through the years he has watched it and his 10 children grow up, "The children played around that tree, we took pictures around that tree." But now to complete the Ticheli road project, the 82 year old must sell the front part of his yard to the city. Including the tree and shrubs. "This is my property, this is my home and it feels like someone is taking something from me that I really don't want to get rid of." said Phillip Jackson.
But by giving up his land, Jackson is making way for a project that will transform the road leading up to the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. Once this project is completed it will stretch from 165 bypass to 165 business also known as Jackson Street. Planning began in 2002 and funding was secured two years later.
But nearly eight years later, construction has yet to begin.
City leaders say the years worth of project delays were caused by the process of acquiring the land necessary. Now the city, is making offers to landowners along the future business connector. Attlee Simonton has lived in her home off of Ticheli road and the 30 year resident lives just far away enough to not give up land. "I'm very much relieved that I wont have to move, because I like back here." said Attlee Simonton, she added she hopes the future business connector will bring positive changes to her street.
But as for Jackson, looking on the bright side, he says at least he gets to keep his home. "You have to accept life for what it is and move on." said Jackson.
Construction on the project is expected to begin within the next year.
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