MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Elvis Presley Boulevard is finally getting a facelift, including everything from drainage improvements to utility enhancements.
Millions of dollars have been secured to pay for the project. It's been talked about for years, and soon it will become a reality. The project is slated to get underway in a matter of months.
From Brooks Road to Shelby Drive, Elvis Presley Boulevard's multimillion dollar makeover is clearly overdue.
“I'll tell you straight up, the neighborhood looks like it used to be a really nice neighborhood that's on the downward slide,” said tourist Andy Zorovich.
Tourists like Zorovich are wrong about one thing; this area isn't on a downward slide, it's at the bottom. There's no where to go but up.
In November work will begin to revamp a two and a half mile stretch of Elvis Presley Boulevard. The facelift includes road and pavement repairs, better signage and street lighting.
Whitehaven business owners like Hazel Moore say it's about time.
“Graceland brings in so many million dollars and so many people to this city and anything that brings that much revenue to the city, it is important that we beautify and keep it going,” Moore said.
The price tag is $43 million. City Councilman Harold Collins fought for the improvements. He says that cost is a drop in the bucket compared to the impact it will make.
“We recognize that there is an urgency to get new businesses, particularly restaurants on the street. We believe that once we complete our project we will aggressively go out and recruit restaurants and fulfill that need,” Collins said.
Good things come to those who wait and this will be no different. Repairs will be complete in 2017.
