Tallahassee’s Gaines Street is now open to all traffic. But future development in the area excites local government officials and business owners more than newly paved roads.
The renovation on Gaines Street took quite a bit longer than your average Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode. But just like the show, a big bus - the Star Metro bus publicizing Get It On Gaines - rolled down the avenue Thursday to unveil its opening. Former City Commissioner Mark Mustian who helped start the renovation process expressed, what the new Gaines Street means for the city’s developing future.
“This made too much sense. It had to work. And so, nay-sayers who said ‘what are you doing spending my tax dollars down there on Gaines Street?’ Well, $128 million of private investment later one of the most satisfying things about being a public official is saying ‘I told you so,’” said Mustian.
Even some local business owners like Danny Shine of Full Press Apparel said, more than Gaines Street reopening, it’ll be the new student housing around Gaines Street that’ll really help his business.