In Maitland,

work will begin soon on a street that will be part of a long-sought downtown area.

— Workers will soon begin turning dirt on a narrow road that will one day host events and serve as an anchor to Maitland’s long-sought downtown.

On Monday, the city council approved spending $1.2 million to spruce up Independence Lane, a two-lane city block that runs between Horatio and Packwood avenues.

Officials approved the contract with construction manager Walker Lamm by a 3-1 vote, with Mayor Dale McDonald casting the opposing vote citing costs and a lack of parking in the proposed plan.

Plans call for the road separating Maitland City Centre and city hall to be completed in about six months. It will be paved with red bricks — including using some salvaged from sidewalks at the old city hall — and will also feature new sidewalks and curbs.

“We’re trying to get a downtown, and to get people there you need a place they want to go to,” said Vice Mayor Joy GoffMarcil, who voted in favor of the project. “We feel like this is the jump start to get our downtown going.”

No Maitland residents spoke on the proposal Monday evening.

Maitland envisions Independence Lane as a festival street which could be shut down to vehicle traffic to hold special events with vendors and pedestrians. The area is expected to be pedestrian and bicycle friendly as well, Goff-MarMAITLAND cil said.

“I think our biggest plan is we want connectivity and be able to ride your bike around the town and have trails that connect to the downtown and eventually to the west side as well,” she said.

In December, the council approved the design for the street, including a portion of the road adorned with overhead festoon lights. Plans also call for the street to be lined with palm trees, benches and several rain gardens.

With development aimed at bringing patrons to the downtown area, McDonald opposed the contract in part because the new design only calls for 25 parking spaces — the same number Independence Lane has now. He also balked at the

cost associated with upgrading just 557 feet of road.

“I don’t care for the configuration,” he lamented before the council voted. “It is what it is. You guys only let me have one vote.”

Assistant City Manager Mark Reggentin said the deal came in $26,717 over budget, but checks all the boxes the city hoped for.

Over the long term, Maitland could extend Independence Lane south toward Lake Lily Park.

This is the latest move in Maitland’s pursuit of a reshaped downtown surrounding its city hall.

One of the next additions to the downtown area is Independence Square, which will bookend the district to the north.

Community Redevelopment Agency manager Charles Rudd said the square is still being designed and would host public events and give the growing city a place to gather for events such as a Fourth of July Celebration or movies.

Maitland holds farmers markets and other events at Lake Lily Park, about two blocks south of city hall along U.S. Highway 17-92.

“[Independence Square] will become the center of activity and special events … kind of like any old-fashioned town square,” Rudd said. “It also acts as a counterbalance to Lake Lily.”

Across the street from City Hall, crews continue to make progress on the Maitland City Centre project, which will add 250 residential units, as well as retail space and restaurants to the area.

The Maitland City Centre’s onsite leasing office is expected to open in early 2018, which comes just after the completion of Independence Lane.

The plaza has signed deals with Starbucks, Subway and Chef Clayton Miller’s Spindrift Concepts and Food Hall, project spokeswoman Cristina Bermudez said.

“I truly believe this will be a catalyst for more investment, more activity in downtown,” Rudd said.