Put a couple beers in me and get me talking about metro area towns and it’s inevitable that I’ll bring up Stone Mountain.

“Think about it!  That city has one of the largest tourist attractions in the state just minutes down the road, but the city’s downtown is a mess!”

Or something like that.

And like any good rant, mine was pretty devoid of facts.  I hadn’t exactly been down to Stone Mountain City Hall and asked any of these questions to anyone who might actually know the answer.  (The recipient of my rants were mainly friends too nice – or drunk – to tell me to shut up or strangers I’ve accosted in the line at Taqueria del Sol.)

But according to this morning’s AJC, the City of Stone Mountain has been trying to put some money into its streetscapes for at least the lifespan of my rant…

Stone Mountain’s bid for a streetscape goes back nearly a decade. Hiccups included funding delays and a dispute with a local property owner over the fate of a balcony that hangs over Main Street. Construction finally began earlier this month, with the state Department of Transportation paying for three-quarters of the $1.66 million first phase.

Plans call for 12- to 16-foot sidewalks to replace the current 8- to 1-foot ones in front of businesses, historical accents and a block-long landscaped median.

By year’s end, a second $1.6 million streetscape phase extending down Main Street to Poole Street should be ready for to break ground. By summer, the City Council is slated to change its alcohol ordinance. The city must allow outdoor dining so eateries can serve food and alcohol on those new broad walkways.

What great news!  And though I’ll miss the city’s shabby-chic feel, I’m thrilled to hear that Stone Mountain is finally able to invest in itself again.  The block-long landscaped median and wider sidewalks sound like a big step in the right direction.

So the only thing I’ll say about the plans for brick sidewalks and “historical accents” is I hope they can refrain from going overboard with the faux-historicism.  One “Crossroads ®” is enough!