Property owners and residents of the area west of Wahnish Way, north of Gamble Street, east of Lake Bradford Road and south of Gaines Street take notice: the city’s planned extension of FAMU Way could affect you.
FAMU Way, formerly named Canal Street, runs east and west along the northern border of the FAMU campus. It begins at Adams Street heading west and ends at Wahnish way.
The city plans to extend FAMU Way west to Lake Bradford Road. To the east, the extension will end at Monroe Street.
When completed, the extension will permit traffic heading north on Lake Bradford Road toward Doak Campbell Stadium to turn right on FAMU Way and bypass the stadium as well as Gaines Street.
Not only does the city’s plan extend FAMU Way, it also widens it.
The new street will have two lanes for two-way traffic, another lane on each side for parking. There also will be room for sidewalks on each side as well as bike paths, if the current plan is implemented.
If so, it would require acquiring a sizable strip of FAMU’s property adjacent to FAMU Way.
President James H. Ammons and the FAMU Board of Trustees have seen the proposed plan but have not responded to it, according to city officials.
However, the major area of concern and the one that could create the biggest problem is the property the city wants for the extension of FAMU Way between Wahnish Way and Lake Bradford Road.
According to preliminary drawings, the city is considering three options for the path of the extension, and all three require the acquisition of private property, including some currently occupied homes.
That is why this is so critical to all residents and property owners in the target area enclosed by Wahnish Way, Gamble Street, Lake Bradford Road and Gaines Street.
The city is seeking public comment on the proposed routes and has scheduled a public meeting to solicit such input from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 21 at Smith-Williams Service Center.
City officials will be there with charts, drawings of the proposed extension routes, other materials and to answer questions.
Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend — especially people who live and/or own property in the affected area. The same applies to anyone who knows of anyone who lives or owns property in the area. Pass the word and make sure you and they are at the meeting.
City officials also are trying to arrange an additional meeting on Aug. 19 at Flipper Chapel A.M.E. Church, which is located within the area targeted for the expansion. If and when that meeting is finalized, you will be given ample notice.
Please plan to attend both meetings. We cannot overemphasize how important that is.
If we remain silent on this one, some of the residents could be forced to sell their property and literally be left homeless.
When that happens, it will be too late to do anything about it.
Attend these meetings and speak now while there is still time to influence the city’s ultimate choice.
To view detailed colored renderings of the three optional routes, visit the Capital Outlook Web site a www.capitaloutlook.com.
For further information, contact Bill Woolery at (850) 891-8470, or David Cannon at (850) 891-8535.
