- April 23, 2024
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They say first impressions are very important, and that’s what business and government leaders are counting on as a major landscaping project gets underway for North U.S. 1.
A project that began with businesses donating a few thousand dollars each has grown to a nearly $2 million landscaping effort that will change the face of one of the main entrances to the area.
The slopes and roadways of the interchange at Interstate 95 will be landscaped, as well as the medians south to Airport Road.
Government and business leaders celebrated the beginning of the work at a groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 13. The hope is that an improved corridor will bring businesses to the area and spur the development of Ormond Crossings, the long-planned area for new residential housing and a business park
“This is a great day. You’ll see a lot of happy people here today,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rick Fraser. “It’s incredible to think it will all be complete by next spring,”
The seeds for the landscaping were actually planted when a group of concerned business people and residents formed the U.S. 1 Coalition to improve the appearance of the corridor.
At a meeting in late 2013, the coalition, led by Peggy Farmer, met to discuss what they could do. Each member donated money and came up with $20,000 for landscaping.
“Those were the eight business folks who contributed between $1,000 and $5,000,” Farmer said.
Later, the city and county both matched the amount for a total of $60,000. The city then successfully applied for an FDOT grant of $500,000, which was later increased to $750,000. The medians will be completed with these funds with the city adding a needed balance of $87,670.
Earlier this year, FDOT announced it would beautify the interchange, at a cost of $875,987.
“I think Maryam Ghyabi had a lot to do with that,” Farmer said. “She knows so many people at FDOT.”
Ghyabi is a member of the North U.S. 1 Coalition and president and CEO of Ghyabi and Associates, a transportation and planning firm in Ormond Beach. She also heads up a task force for improving International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach.
The medians will be irrigated with reclaimed water and will be maintained by Ormond Beach. An annual cost of $35,000 has been budgeted for maintenance.
Robert Carolin, Leisure Service director, said the project could not have happened without Peggy Farmer.
Fraser said the project was the culmination of positive energy created by Farmer as well s Fred Costello, another key player in the U.S. 1 effort..
Costello said the efforts to improve U.S. 1 began in earnest when the now defunct Cheaters night club opened in 2010.
“I contacted members of the faith community and said we need to stop this,” he said. Area churches protested the presence of the “gentlemen’s club.”
Eventually, the City Commission passed ordinances which ended the performances at the club and it shut down.
It was also the existence of Cheaters that spurred the Coalition to action.
“Business, government and the faith community all partnered together,” Costello said.
City Commissioner Bill Partington pointed out that city staff designed the landscaping improvements and worked out the engineering details. .
“I know it will surpass expectations,” he said.
Farmer also said out that annexation of land along U.S. 1 by the city will improve the corridor.
“It was such a checkerboard and the county wasn’t taking care of it,” she said. “So far, 250 acres have been annexed with $32 million of just value.”
The following members of the North U.S. 1 Coalition received plaques at the groundbreaking for donating money to get the project started.
Scott and Todd Vanacore, Vanacore Homes
Parker and Donna Mynchenberg
Ronnie and Lore Bledsoe
David Lusby, Tomoka Holdings
Drs. Sevigny, Turetsky, Traficante, and Klioze
Maryam Ghyabi
Ed Schwarz and Ray Barshay, RiverGrille
Tim Curtis, Houligans
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