News 12 at six o'clock, July 18, 2008

Augusta, GA---The city of Augusta unveiled it's streetscaping demonstration block Friday. It's out with the old and in with the new as the city of Augusta takes a new look one block at time. "It's gonna mean for me when I ride down on Broad Street I'll be able to keep upright on my bike," said Grace Waters. She works and plays downtown.

"I was riding around on the uneven streets of Broad and I was veering around a pedestrian, and I toppled over and consequently I managed to scar myself rather well," said Grace.

The new streetscaping at 10th and Broad Street is right up her alley. "I think it's absolutely kismet, and I tell you what my bike will be very happy," said Grace.

There's plenty of excitement to go around. Robert Steudle owns a business along the stretch. He was front and center for the unveiling. "I know it's something that really needed to be done. It just makes the outside look as good as we feel the inside is too," said Robert.

"We are extremely serious about downtown revitalization, and we will continue to push forward," said Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver.

The city admits it will cost a pretty penny. This project cost more than expected. "We had crumbling sewer lines...we had to replace all those so about $25,000 extra dollars to get it done and done right," said Margaret Woodard who is executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.

The total cost...$192,000. "When you multiply it over a lot of blocks it will be a lot of money to spend to redevelop downtown," said Mayor Deke Copenhaver.

"It is a lot of money, but the end result is going to be better safety, better landscaping, and I won't have to worry about this," said Grace.

The Downtown Development Authority began the demonstration block in December of 2007. The project was funded through a public-private partnership. .