“If we improve the accessibility and the aesthetics of the alley, they can be added in as corridors of pedestrian travels,” Esquivel said.
Design work for the first phase, which will improve the alleys along the 100 block of Main Street, is nearly done, and construction is anticipated to take six to 10 months, Esquivel said. The city has earmarked a total of $1.06 million for the project from the general and enterprise funds of the budget, the city’s adopted budget shows.
Mike Baxter, Tomball’s director of marketing and tourism, said he believes the project will help with pedestrian access during festivals and events and help beautify the city. He said he hopes businesses backing up to the alleys will create mural art similar to the city’s mural at 215 W. Main St.
“Beautifying these alleys and making it more appealing for the general public to walk up and down these alleys will give merchants whose businesses back up to these alleyways a canvas for doing their own poster or mural projects,” Baxter said.
Esquivel said residents and businesses can expect disruption during construction; however, Baxter said construction should not affect events.
