Ocean Springs News
City’s Downtown Streetscape Project Includes Demo of Former Fallo’s Dry Cleaners Site
Ocean Springs, MS – Thanks to a Community Development Block Grant through the Downtown Streetscape Project, the former Fallo’s Dry Cleaners on Government Street will soon be demolished to make room for additional downtown parking for shoppers and diners. The .67 acre site was purchased for $286,000 through CDBG funds and environmentally assessed through a MS DEQ service grant.
Fallo’s Dry Cleaners officially closed its door in 2006, after nearly 50 years of business in Ocean Springs. The original building was designed by Caroll Ishee and had been enlarged three times to accommodate customer needs. Located in Ward 3, Alderman Chic Cody noted that it is often difficult to rehab former dry cleaning businesses because of contaminates.
“The City was able to acquire a service grant from MS DEQ to do a Brownfield Assessment, evaluating the levels of contaminates on the property site. Luckily, it was found to be a very clean dry cleaning site,” explained Alderman Cody. “This site will greatly enhance our downtown area, especially in providing parking for our many events. Downtown often becomes congested; this new parking lot will not only alleviate that problem, but create green space.”
“Phase II of the Streetscape Project seeks to transform Government Street into as beautiful a place as Washington Avenue,” said Eric Meyer, Director of Community Development and Planning.
Plans for the site following demolition and moderate improvements include surface parking. This improvement to Government Street is part of the city’s $4.6 million Downtown Streetscape Project. The project will bring landscaping, improved sidewalks, brick pavers, curbing, lighting, buried utility cables, and approximately 70 trees varying in heights of 15 and 25 ft. to the city’s downtown area.
