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Downtown Mall Project Still Under Review

August 30th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

The proposal to reopen the Downtown Cumberland Mall to vehicular traffic-  part of a significant redesign project- has been on the table since the fall of 2016- and to date it is still somewhat bogged down in paperwork. Despite the hurdles, Mayor Ray Morriss is remaining optimistic. The redevelopment project is ultimately expected to include replacement of underground utility lines followed by reinstalling Baltimore Street through the pedestrian mall. Initially costs estimates were in the $3.5 to $5 million range- but that has now ballooned to close to $10 million. Talk of a groundbreaking first centered on the summer of 2020- but that target has now moved to spring of next year. Morriss tells WCBC News that state and federal reviews are taking place- and once they are complete the project can finally be put out for bids…