San Gabriel : Mission Project to Begin
Groundbreaking for the first phase of beautifying the district around the San Gabriel Mission is slated for Wednesday, city officials said.
Last month, the City Council accepted a bid of $1.879 million from Gentry Brothers of Irwindale to make the improvements.
“For many people, this is going to be a dream come true,” said Councilwoman Mary Cammarano. Plans to create a setting worthy of the mission have been discussed in various forms for at least 25 years, she said.
Trees, street lamps and decorative paving in keeping with the mission and the Civic Auditorium will be installed, mostly along portions of Mission Drive. Some sidewalks will be widened to attract more foot traffic.
The work should be completed in July, said City Administrator P. Michael Paules.
The city hopes the changes will attract new businesses, especially ones that cater to shoppers, tourists and diners.
To finance the project, the council voted to supplement the $1.55 million already budgeted with $350,000 from a gasoline reserve collected by the state.
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