The city of Santa Clarita
is set to rebuild two blocks in Old Town Newhall.

[view:node_ad=5]New landscaping, street furniture and storm drains are ready
to be installed, in part of a continued effort to revitalize Old Town
Newhall.

 “This project is
intended to create a whole new atmosphere for Old Town Newhall for several
blocks,” said Chris Price, Assistant City Engineer.   

The City is taking bids from contractors for the streetscape
and storm drain project and estimate that the total cost for the storm drains
and a one block facelift will be close to $2.2 million. They are hoping that
with the competitive nature of the bid that this price will also include a
second block as well.   

Some local business owners have been vocal in trying to get all
five blocks of Old Town Newhall redeveloped, but due to the high cost and
conflicts with private developments in the area the City has settled on just
two streets. 

Local business and residents will be disrupted mostly
because of traffic.  Price says that they
will typically have one lane open during construction but there may be intermittent
closures as well. 

The project is scheduled to begin in early 2009, and to help
inform the community on the project the city is holding a meeting on January 8,
2009, at 6:30 p.m. in the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center.