After the Union Street fire last year, the process of rebuilding has been slow moving.
Once an offshoot of Court Street lined with eccentric bars and memorabilia stores, half of Union Street is now penned off with wire fencing, a harsh reminder of November’s fire.
The fire was a devastating blow to Athens last fall, but the fact that there has been no real push for improvement on the government’s part nearly a year later is not only discouraging — it’s ridiculous.
In March, Athens City Council members designated the buildings on West Union Street as historic buildings so rebuilding costs would not all fall on the landlords.
Some businesses applied for state funding to also help offset the costs of rebuilding. They were able to do this because they were labeled “historic.”
The problem lies with the state, which has been slow to act on the damaged buildings. The funding that they are supposed to provide the businesses has not gone through yet, so reconstruction has not began.
The construction is held up by the debris that still litters the once-bustling street. Construction is supposed to be started in November, according to Garry Hunter, part of the Carrie Larch Trust, though the debris has only started to be cleared away.
Construction cannot start until all the debris is removed. The full street will not be open until construction is fully done.
Chris Falls, Councilwoman D-4th Ward, said construction will, at the very earliest, not be finished until the 2016-17 academic year.
The street is not only a painful reminder of what once was a vibrant hub of local entertainment, but also is a safety hazard that has to be dealt with, as rooftops, ash and debris still litter the area.
For those of you who remember what Union Street used to be, we are right there with you. We wish we could come see Rocky Horror Picture Show one last time at The Union or stop into Kismet for a new shirt.
For those of you who never saw it for what it once was, we hope that the restoration will speed up so we can bring life back to Union Street again.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post's executive editors: Editor-in-Chief Emma Ockerman, Managing Editor Rebekah Barnes, Opinion Editor Will Gibbs and Digital Managing Editor Samuel Howard. Post editorials are independent of the publication's news coverage.
