The City of Lula has recently hired a design firm and engineering firm to explore renovations to the Lula Depot site and community center. The City acquired the property and buildings late last year, from the remaining members of LABA (Lula Area Betterment Association) offering a wonderful opportunity to enhance the facilities and development more venues for the community to enjoy.
The current site was developed beginning in 1981 and has seen a few improvements over the years. The current depot building was constructed sometime in the early 90’s along with the stage and the addition of the caboose in later years. The facilities have weathered fairly well over the years and appears to be structurally sound and should offer a great start point to work from.
Currently, the City Council has begun to evaluate current and future uses to understand what opportunities are best suited for the community. Three (3) areas have been discussed for future and current needs those being “Private Uses”, “Community Uses”, and “Public/ Government Uses” where over 43 functions have been identified for future use!
The goal of the design firm and engineering is to create a Master Plan that encompasses an adopted design which will address improvements to the depot, stage and area grounds through the course of the coming years as the city budget and council allows. It’s a shame that all the improvements can’t be performed all at once, but the council remains vigilant to living within the city’s needs and available funds. The “Master Plan” approach when adopted by the City Council, will identify what improvements over the course of time will be performed so the public can embrace each phase (3) of improvements and begin to enjoy the opportunities as they mature.
At this point, “Mayor Jim Grier” has taken public input and direction from the city council and guided the proposals into 3 schemes / designs initially for the depot/ community center for consideration.
In the coming weeks it is anticipated that the council will approve some design elements for the “first phase” which will allow for bids for construction to be considered by the city council. The current goal is to get a contractor established for the first phase of improvements which should begin sometime after this years “Railroad Days Festival and Parade” May 12th. With the initial completion of Phase “One” to be completed sometime in August.
Once the “first phase” of improvements is approved and underway it is anticipated that the city will begin to address future uses and events / venues and how those will be programed. The citizenry can anticipate that there will be more functions (bigger and better) more community events and better facilities to enjoy well into the future!
