City of Hartwell Applies for Railroad St. Grant

The City of Hartwell is applying for a major grant to continue the effort to renovate Railroad Street.

Speaking Sunday on Community Forum, Hart County Chamber director Nikki Myer said the grant will enable the city and a non-profit group, known as TORCH, to take the next step in developing the long abandoned street in downtown Hartwell.

“The City of Hartwell is working with the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission on an ARC Grant,” Meyer said. “And if we get that, it will help us get the first phase of the Railroad St. renovation off the ground.”

Plans are to revitalize Railraod St. and put in new shops, restaurants, an artists’ pavilion, walking trails and a park for children.

Meyer said so far, engineering and surveying work as well as architectural designs  for how Railroad St. will look one day are already in the works.   Earlier this summer, dozens of volunteers gathered for a clean-up day on Railroad Street.

Meyer said that day resulted in uncovering the old train turntable and other parts of the Street long overgrown with weeds and debris.

“We got rid of trees, and shrubs and brambles and all sorts of things,” she said. “So the turntable was exposed, the rail lines were exposed from Jackson to Webb St. People could actually go out and see exactly what the street is going to look like because we got rid of all that junk.”

She said volunteer support has been tremendous and another clean up day is planned.

For information on how you can get involved in helping to redevelop Railroad St., you can contact the Hart County Chamber at 706-376-8590.