Gray’s Downtown Development Authority met with representatives of several landscape architect companies last week interested in creating a master plan for the city.

In addition to the five representatives that showed up Feb. 22 to ask questions of board members, 28 others have requested the information needed to submit bids for the job. Gray’s DDA has been working toward the creation of a master plan for the city since its first meeting in January 2009.

A master plan is a document containing comprehensive guidance or instruction for development. The plan can be as detailed as money available to fund the plan will allow. The DDA has divided Gray’s development into two phases. Phase One includes the city’s historic downtown area, and Phase Two includes commercial area along the corridor extending into and out of Gray.

DDA Chairman Cecil Ethridge gave last week’s meeting attendees an overview of the DDA and handled the introductions. Ethridge said, when he grew up in Gray, the city had no red lights.

“We realize that we need a plan. The streetscape was done in the last five years, and we want to incorporate that design in the plan,” he said.

Authority member Ashley Mackin explained that addressing abandoned buildings in the downtown area is an important part of Phase One, and the city is struggling to have an identity.

“We have no square. What we have is a railroad crossing. Something needs to be done about traffic flow and we need a business and community center,” she said.

Mackin added that parking is a problem downtown and not conducive to attracting new businesses.

Authority member Sherri Rollins said the DDA is looking at the area next to the Jones County Courthouse as good place for development. She said the property owners are willing to work with the DDA.

“The courthouse could help attract small businesses. We believe the area has great potential,” Rollins said.

Authority secretary Kema Clark said another location ripe for development is the block behind the streetscape that could be connected to the courthouse area, and Rollins stated that the streetscape should be tied to whatever is proposed.

Gray Mayor Gus Wilson said foot traffic is an issue. He said he would like to encourage walking downtown and proposed development be connected with sidewalks.

The question was asked about the impact of Gray’s North Bypass that has been proposed for more than 15 years. Rollins said, if Phase One is done correctly, the bypass will not affect it.

Mackin concluded that the DDA is seeking creative direction with the plan.

“We need new ideas. The latest traffic count showed that we have 25,000 vehicles traveling through downtown every 24 hours. We want to be a destination and not just a place you drive through,” she said.

The deadline for submission of the bids for the master plan is March 15.