About a month into Hollister’s downtown beautification project,
the city is on budget and, for the most part, on schedule.
Construction company McGuire and Hester, who beat the
competition with a low bid of $3.4 million, is hoping to have the
project finished by the July 4 weekend
– just in time for the Hollister Independence Rally.
About a month into Hollister’s downtown beautification project, the city is on budget and, for the most part, on schedule.
Construction company McGuire and Hester, who beat the competition with a low bid of $3.4 million, is hoping to have the project finished by the July 4 weekend – just in time for the Hollister Independence Rally.
The project encompasses San Benito Street from Third Street to Hawkins Street; Monterey Street from South Street to Third Street; and East Street from South Street to Third Street.
While much of the sidewalk work remains ahead of schedule, Redevelopment Agency Director Bill Avera concedes that some of the tree installation lags behind.
“We wanted to have 40 to 50 trees ready to go and we’re not there yet,” Avera said.
The delay in tree planting is being caused by problems coordinating electrical lights and guard rail installation, which all has to be done by different agencies, Avera said.
Instead of planting one tree at a time, when they’re finally ready either Crepe Myrtle or Capital Pear trees will be planted all at the same time.
“I was hoping to have trees be replaced when they were taken out,” he said. “But when you start seeing people plant trees, there will be a lot of them.”
Crews are now pouring concrete on South Street by McKinnon Lumber Co. and will soon be making their way down San Benito Street toward Sixth and Fifth streets in the coming weeks.
Business owners in the areas where construction is taking place have expressed annoyance at the construction crews and clouds of dust, but recognize that in the long run it will look more beautiful.
