FAIRHOPE — Plans are moving forward to create a public space at the Fairhope clock corner at the intersection of Fairhope Avenue and Section Street.

The city council voted Monday, Aug. 8, to hire the landscape architecture firm of Christian Preus to perform engineering services needed to put the project out for bid and begin construction.

Councilman Jack Burrell said the time has come to start work on the project.

"This has long been anticipated. I'm excited to get this moving," Burrell said. "That was one of the things that the mayor had brought before us on that list for that money to be spent on, $1 million, that was to pay for the actual build out, benches, tables, whatever."

In an earlier meeting, council members said surplus funds could be used to pay some of the costs of renovating the clock corner.

Under the proposal approved Aug. 8, Christian Preus will develop a design for the site. The company will also prepare construction documents and oversee bidding on the project. Company officials will also visit the site during construction and oversee the work.

The company will be paid $18,799 for the work.

An earlier report by Christian Preus said the site does not have enough shade, seating or outdoor character. The report also stated that the pavement "looks dingy."

Proposals for the site include enlarging the circle at the corner around the clock as a transitional area near the intersection and adding brick rings to create circular patterns. Planners have also proposed seating areas in the space.

The city will also add irrigation pipes to water plants on the site and electrical lines needed to provide power for the lighting of the city trees during the holidays at the location.

The council voted in 2020 to buy the parcel at the northeast corner of the intersection to be used as a public space. The decision to buy the property was agreed on after an announced plan to build a small hotel near the clock corner. The developer later canceled those plans.

Previously an automobile dealership had been located on the site and the city had to remove two underground fuel tanks buried at the intersection.