Aldermen discuss making Olde Towne “spectacular”

By Randy Bell

People know about Clinton’s Olde Towne—so it’s hardly a hidden gem. But Ward 4 Alderman Chip Wilbanks says the city’s historic jewel needs a polishing. He wants better landscaping and improved maintenance to help Olde Towne shine.

“There are particularly a lot of towns in the metro area that don’t have a downtown like we have, and they’re spending a fortune trying to create that or recreate something that looks like an Olde Towne like we have,” says Wilbanks.

But walking near his law office on West Leake Street, Wilbanks notes that he sees weeds where flowers should be growing, trash that hasn’t been picked up, curbs that need painting and sidewalks that would look better after a pressure washing. He says re-landscaping Olde Towne and following up with proper maintenance “could make it spectacular.”

Wilbanks says it’s more than volunteers can handle. He’s hoping the City will seek proposals to make the improvements. Wilbanks says by focusing on a small area – four half-blocks along Leake and Jefferson Streets – the cost “seems like it would be a reasonable amount of money.”

Tara Lytal with Main Street Clinton says she welcomes an effort to spruce up Olde Towne, which will soon have a new restaurant following the renovation of a couple of buildings in the heart of the historic district. She’d also like to see colorful crosswalk designs at points of access into Olde Towne, including intersections at Mississippi College.

And while flowers and paint will help, Lytal is hoping for something else that will encourage people to visit—more parking. One possibility being explored would create up to a dozen new spaces in an alley between Jefferson and Capitol streets in Olde Towne.