Effingham now has a new road addition/extension and it comes with a lot more than just fresh pavement. The hope now is that the stretch of blacktop will open up possibilities for new homes and businesses while providing more connectivity to the city itself.
Mayor Mike Schutzbach officially opened the Santa Maria Avenue Extension on Wednesday during a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Effingham City Officials, Park District representatives and employees, contractors, and community members alike. The new road extends Santa Maria Avenue from Maple Street to 4th Street, completing a $5.3 million project funded solely through ‘Tax Increment Financing.’
The size of the project goes well beyond the road itself.
Director of Public Works Jeremy Heuerman spoke at the ribbon cutting and outlined everything the project included: street construction, water and sewer improvements, new parking lots, sidewalks, bike trails, lighting, and a brand new recreation pond.
Heuerman noted that the project isn’t just about moving traffic more efficiently.
By opening up much better access to the area, the finished project sets up more than 70 acres of residential property for future development. If it goes to plan, it is one of the more significant long-term investments the city has made towards its growth in recent memory. It could also serve to prove the benefits of ‘TIF’ districting in Effingham and the state really as a whole.
What would you like to see happen with this newly connected area of town?
Photo Credit: The City of Effingham / Facebook
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