2015 is shaping up to be a busy year in Hillsborough with major projects to improve the downtown area.

Mayor Tom Stevens says he’s confident that proposed renovations in downtown Hillsborough will have a positive impact on the area.

He says, “one year from now Downtown Hillsborough is going to be better than ever.”

Those improvement projects include a major renovation to the main parking lot in Hillsborough, known as the Bank of America lot.

“It’s a very odd lot,” he says, “but it is where people tend to gravitate immediately.”

Mayor Stevens adds that they will be tackling other major projects to improve foot traffic in downtown Hillsborough.

“[We’ll be] widening the sidewalks, putting in new crosswalks, and ultimately the DOT will also be repaving all the streets,” he says.

According to Mayor Stevens, they will also be adding in new landscaping to improve the overall aesthetics of the downtown area.

He says that the town arrived at this point after much public comment and extensive work from the town to manage growth in the best way possible.

“In 2010, we did a very comprehensive study mapping out every single spot,” he says. “We had people seeing what the use was. We had people who were surveying people when they were walking the sidewalks.”

Mayor Stevens says that they are expecting a slight net loss in parking but accessibility to the downtown will be increased. He also says he believes adding in loading zones will help alleviate any issues that arise out of lost parking spaces.

The proposed improvement project was given the green light at the final Hillsborough Board of Commissioners meeting earlier in December.

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