A major summer project in Falcon Heights is winding down this month, and city officials say the full effect of the "streetscaping" will be seen next spring when the trees and flowers are in bloom.WHERE IS THE PROJECT?
A two-mile stretch of Larpenteur Avenue, from Fulham Street to Hamline Avenue.
WHAT'S BEING DONE?
In July, the city started planting trees and shrubs in the medians and boulevards along Larpenteur. The project also included new color concrete patches and crosswalk countdown timers to make the area more pedestrian-friendly.
WHY THERE?
Larpenteur Avenue is a route many visitors take to Falcon Heights, said Justin Miller, city administrator. "For a long time it was just a sea of concrete; there was no real distinguishing factor as you were driving through. It was our attempt to beautify the corridor and put our identity into it."
HOW MUCH DID IT COST?
$600,000. The project was financed with excess tax increment funds that needed to be spent by the end of 2012.
HOW MANY PLANTS?
118 trees, 720 shrubs and 1,862 perennial plants. Miller said the plants included maple trees, elms, honeysuckle, black-eyed-susans and decorative prairie grasses.
WHAT'S NEXT?
In 2011, the city hopes to win a grant from a county program to pay for 16 benches to be added along the avenue. The city priced the benches and installation at $46,000, but hopes to decrease that cost by half.
EMMA L. CAREW
