In 2014, the Georgia Avenue Streetscape project began when the City of DeLand held workshops and surveyed residents about how to best use the more than $400,000 in Downtown DeLand Community Redevelopment Area fund. There was a lot of support in fixing the avenue that had become home to so many new, interesting and original-to-town businesses. So, in summer of 2017, plans emerged for the reconstruction of the road. By mid-January of this year construction began, and the new Georgia Avenue reopened in April.
Crews replaced stormwater infrastructure, utilities, sidewalks and installed deep red, brick pavers along the stretch from South Florida Avenue to Woodland Boulevard. The $548,000 project also included repaving the alley formerly known as Pill Alley, home to the DeLand Wings mural, and renaming it Persimmon Alley.
Now, the road is the new pride of Downtown, and area merchants are not only excited about the change, but residents are able to enjoy the beautiful area that is home to Artisan Alley Friday Growers and Makers Market and at least 12 other businesses.
Business is booming. It’s the place to be for lunch, dinner, a concert, a coffee break, specialty beer tasting or just wandering down the Alley on a Friday night. The consensus is that the hassle, mess and money were worth it. It's something that residents can agree on… as long as they don’t ever try to install a roundabout!