The Current Sauce

Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Michael Silver

Media Credit: Michael Silver

Natchitoches recently began a major project to clean and repair the well-known bricks that form Front Street. The lengthy project, however, has already begun affecting businesses located on Front Street, which is one of the city's popular sites for shopping and tourism.

The project marks the first time the city has cleaned and repaired the bricks, which were laid in 1904. Natchitoches' Director of Community Development Randy LaCaze said each brick will be handled with extreme care and will be safely stored while waiting to be inspected. Measures - such as taking photographs of Front Street prior to the construction - have also been taken to ensure that the bricks find their original position after the construction process is completed.

LaCaze said, however, that the cleaning and repairing of bricks is one aspect of the project. He said the city is also taking this opportunity to upgrade Front Street's drainage and pipes and lay a new base for the road to improve driving conditions.

The project costs roughly $3.2 million, but because Front Street is also a state highway, LaCaze said, the state is covering 80 percent of the costs.

The first of three phases in the construction began about four weeks ago. By dividing the project into three phases that coincide with different locations of the street, LaCaze said the construction still allows full access to all of Front Street's businesses.

The first phase, which is taking place in front of stores such as Plantation Treasures and the Kaffie-Frederick general store, was estimated to take three and half months, however, LaCaze said the contracted construction team, Progressive Construction, is optimistic that the phase will be completed sooner.

Despite the heavy rain Natchitoches has experienced lately, LaCaze said, the work has not been heavily impacted, and the city is pleased with Progressive Construction's advancement thus far.

LaCaze said the city has received complaints from merchants and other citizens concerning the project, adding, however, that compliments have outweighed the complaints.

Although the project has gone well so far, merchants on Front Street have begun to feel the strain of the construction team.

Indigo Diekmann, who has been an employee at Cane River Kitchenware since November, said that because construction is currently in front of the store, business has decreased.

"The construction is killing us," Diekmann said. She added that the noise and dust brought on by the construction team creates an undesirable working environment.

Sherry Elter, the manager of Plantation Treasures, described a similar situation, saying her business had experienced a significant decline in sales since construction began last month. Elter said that all her employees can do is keep an open mind and have a positive attitude until construction moves to the next location on the street.

She added, however, that everyone on the construction site "has been very helpful and willing to work with" her staff.

Ashley Henk, a junior biology major at NSU, has worked at The Rocking Horse Toy Store for three years. She said that although she is ready for the construction to be over, she understands that the inconvenience will be worth it in the long run.

The completion of the project is scheduled for mid-November, just in time for the Natchitoches Christmas Festival.

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