Moving and shaping in West Memphis

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Moving and shaping in West Memphis

Progress in city last year shows no signs of stopping in 2018

Mayor Bill Johnson’s annual state of the city message included a nod toward long time city planner Paul Luker, head of the city’s Planning and Community Development Department, and the newly-promoted Amanda Hicks, now running the Public Works Department as City Engineer.

Johnson’s review of the two departments highlighted progress in the city during 2017.

The Planning Department issued a slate commercial and residential building permits. Housing starts showed a pulse with 10 permits issued for new single- family homes in the city last year along with 90 remodeling and house additions also approved.

Community Development reported progress on a citywide effort to demolish and rehabilitate substandard buildings. Sixty-one condemned houses were razed in 2017, while church youth organizations blessed the community by volunteering to fix up 22 owneroccupied homes of selected elderly, low income, or handicapped residents.

The value of all commercial and residential building permits for West Memphis in 2017 amounted to $29 million. Six building permits were issued, including those for construction of the new $25-million Baptist Hospital currently under construction and two hotels along Seventh Street still being built.

The Big River Crossing (BRX) and the Delta Regional River Park also provided a bright spot for city development. The BRX connected Main Street West Memphis to Main Street Memphis via a new bike and pedestrian walkway on the Harahan Bridge over the Mississippi River.

The five-mile trail through the yet-to-be-dedicated Delta River Regional park was completed during 2017.

“The BRX attracted more than 275,000 visitors in its first year of operation,” reported Mayor Bill Johnson.

“The Delta Regional River Park trails provide a unique experience of traveling along the bank of the Mississippi River combined with dramatic views of the downtown Memphis skyline.”

The city engineer reported 2017 activity in public works. The Southland Drive phase 3 extension was finished, connecting Ingram Boulevard to North Seventh Street near the entrance of the hospital, which looks to be completed late this year.

“This improves the traffic flow into and out of the city as well as access to the new Baptist Hospital,” explained Johnson.

Public Works took strides to keep the city clean and lent an assist to code enforcement

picking up over

3,000 illegally dumped tires.

“This department continues to support code enforcement on illegal dumping, tire disposal and mowing of vacant properties,” said Johnson.

Public works reported recycling in the city weighed in at 171,000 pounds.

Road and bridge work were at the for front for the city engineer. Asphalt overlay was spread across 13,600 linear feet of city streets last year. The Hino Road bridge rehabilitation bids were received. Design engineering was selected for the South Loop extension to connect Port Road to Waverly Road. An asphalt overlay on city streets

was completed last year, covering 13,600 linear feet.

By John Rech