04/17/02                                            

By the end of the year, the Edgewood Business District in Homewood should have a different look in the air and under foot.

The city plans to add decorative lights with hanging flower baskets and new sidewalks to the 1½-block area at Broadway and Oxmoor Road.

Mayor Barry McCulley said the project should cost between $200,000 and $250,000 and be completed before the winter holidays.

The lights will be similar to those along the recently completed Green Springs Highway projects.

City officials have high hopes the flower baskets will be ready for "We Love Homewood Day" May 4. Edgewood will be the end of a parade route and the site of a street dance party after the parade.

Given that he has three weeks to order, receive and install the baskets, City Engineer Greg Cobb said the baskets might arrive after the city's big event.

The design of the sidewalks will be similar to those found outside Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, with sidewalk squares framed with red bricks.

The Homewood City Council last week authorized Council President Ginger Busby to lead the project.

In other actions, the council:

Rescheduled its May meetings to avoid a Memorial Day conflict. The meetings will take place May 6 and 20.

Set a May 20 public hearing for a rezoning request by YW Homes in Birmingham to allow for four duplexes in the 2700 block of B.M. Montgomery Street in Rosedale. The city Planning Commission unanimously recommended the rezoning April 2.

Set a May 6 public hearing for a proposal to make Saulter Road a one-way street. Under the proposal, traffic would move only toward Oxmoor Road.

Allowed Police Chief Charles Trucks to apply for a federal grant that would pay for a student-resource officer in Homewood High School.