DALTON, Ga. -- Crawford Street is considered by many as the gateway to downtown Dalton.
As such, the wide, four-lane street with parking along a center median is perfect for streetscaping, outdoor events and an overall sprucing up, the city's mayor says.
So it should be no surprise that a month ago, when city leaders pitched a new, long-term plan to make Dalton more pedestrian-friendly, the centerpiece was the section of Crawford Street between Selvidge and Pentz streets.
"I think Crawford Street has been part of our vision for two or three years now," Mayor David Pennington said. "I think it's a very bold and forward-thinking vision."
The plan, which is laid out in a short video on YouTube, proposes that a median and nose-in parking be replaced with grass and trees. The street would lose traffic lanes, too, as the whole plan is focused on making Crawford Street friendly to shoppers and outdoor festivals.
Mr. Pennington thinks about 90 percent of the people he's heard from like the new vision, but there are detractors.
"There are people who were concerned about the cost," Mr. Pennington said. "And there are people who are concerned about the loss of parking."
Those are concerns the mayor said he shares. In fact, he thinks the Crawford Street project is likely on hold until after the economy recovers. And the parking concern would have to be addressed, he said.
Though the city has not set a timeline for the project, the mayor stressed that there will be public input into the plan.
Two residents spoke against the idea at a recent City Council meeting.
"Changing the parking could cut out business, it could cut out the potential to rent business down there," said Sonia Shuler, who operates a salon on Crawford Street. "I don't see the need to take away more parking when you are trying to bring more business into downtown Dalton."
Randy Mayfield worried about the cost.
"It's not time to be spending money. You can't even think about spending money," Mr. Mayfield said. "We don't need it now. We'll never, ever need it. It's not going to affect Dalton one bit. How many people do you think have been saving money ... so they can come down and tour Dalton, Georgia, this summer?"
Others see the project as the way of the future for Dalton, a city that is interested in attracting more young professionals and diversifying its economy beyond carpet mills.
"I think it's part of a greater vision for Dalton," said Bill Bowen, owner of the Pentz Street Station coffeehouse. "It's not the only plan there will be, but it's very bold and forward-thinking. I hope I live to get to see it."
In the video, consultants lay out plans to link the city to two green spaces, a downtown football field and to outdoor recreation on Mount Rachel, among other attractions.
Mr. Pennington, comparing the city to other communities such as Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., said the first phase would likely be to link the city to the outdoor spaces.
Those are cheaper tasks that could be completed quickly.
"Young professionals prefer to live in communities that are pedestrian friendly," Mr. Pennington said. "That's the city of the future, and the cities that are the most economically viable are moving in that direction."
Click HERE to view the Youtube video.