A well-known Gastonia bottling and distribution company is working with the city to drop a little more sun on its neck of the woods. Choice USA Beverage has been bottling Sun Drop and other soft drinks from its plant at 809 E. Franklin Blvd. since the 1950s. More recently, the block it occupies between Chestnut and Church streets has begun to show signs of wear and tear.
So Choice USA approached city leaders recently about working together to give the span a virtual caffeine boost. “It’s a public-private partnership — a joint venture of sorts to make some pedestrian, lighting and aesthetic enhancements,” said Assistant City Manager Flip Bombardier.
The details of the improvements are still being worked out, and what it will cost is also still uncertain. But the goal will be to make the area look better for people who walk and drive by every day. So far, discussions have revolved around repairing the sidewalks and curbs that run along Franklin Boulevard there, and upgrading Choice USA’s driveways. New ladder-style crosswalks would be installed at the Chestnut and Church intersections, with ramps and other infrastructure upgrades.
Choice USA is also considering enhancements to its own property. The open space in front of the Sun Drop billboard — where a fair-haired, bikini-clad “Golden Girl” gazes out at the boulevard from a teacup — would be landscaped. “They’ve talked about taking out some of the asphalt and concrete and doing some improvements in conjunction with Keep Gastonia Beautiful,” Bombardier said.
The company is considering adding a new 10-foot grassy area and a decorative clock with benches inside the property line. New transit shelters may also be added to protect people from inclement weather while they wait for the bus there. Bombardier said the city was enthusiastic about working with Choice Beverage when the idea was suggested this year.
“We think it’s a great opportunity for that type of project, both for the general benefit of the area, and also because it serves as one of our gateways,” he said.
You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or twitter.com/GazetteMike.