Casselberry work on Casselton Drive to increase green space
CASSELBERRY – Work continues on Casselton Drive as the city seeks to increase green space, improve sidewalks, and fix drainage and utility problems around the road’s corridor. The $3 million project began Sept. 10 and is expected to take up to a year to complete.
Casselberry City Engineer Kelly Brock said it has four components.
“It is a road project, utility project, storm water project and park project,” he said.
Casselton Drive, in the southern part of the city, runs through an area where there isn’t much green space, so city officials added a linear park near the roadway to give residents a place to walk and hang out.
City Manager Randy Newlon said he thinks residents will be pleased when it’s finished. He added that it represents what the city is hoping to build going forward.
“We want the city to be beautiful but walkable, safe, multi-motile,” he said. “I think the project will speak well of what we like for the city as a whole.”
The Casselton project is being funded by sales taxes, storm water utility fees, the city’s tree fund and water/ sewer utility fees.
Originally, it was supposed to be a drainage project. But as city officials got into it, they saw an opportunity for further development and improvement around the roadway.
“A big storm pipe showed signs of failure, and we knew the road needed resurfacing,” Brock said. “When we went down and looked at it, it presented an opportunity to do complete street improvement.”
In addition to the Casselton Drive project, the city commission recently earmarked an additional $50,000 for its ongoing Neighborhood Improvement Grant program.
The program lets residents apply for and receive money to upgrade their homes’ exteriors.
“Many of the projects eligible for funding through the grant program can be major repairs a home must go through in its life cycle, including roof, windows and doors,” said Emily Hanna, development services manager. “Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this program to help fund these rather expensive projects and keep their home in great working shape. Additionally, this grant program helps spur additional investment by freeing up monies spent on these projects, which can be used to add lighting, or add landscaping, or other projects the homeowner might want to undertake.”
In addition to individual homeowners, homeowner associations are also eligible to apply. Applications opened on Oct. 1.
Since the program started in 2014, the city has disbursed $126,073. The money used for the program comes from the city’s planning and operating budgets. The city commission approved an additional $50,000 for the program in September.
Besides giving homes – and the city – more curb appeal, Hanna said the program’s goal is to create community pride by incentivizing residents to take better care of their homes and their neighborhoods.