Staff Writer

One downtown building will be destroyed to make room for improvements.

The building currently housing Flattops and Fiddles and the old barbershop on Elm Street was purchased by the city of Troy and will soon be history.

Because of an Alabama Department of Transportation grant, a redevelopment grant has been made the project possible.

"The primary reason for getting this grant is for pedestrian transportation," said Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford.

He explained the project will bring unify the square with the Market Street area.

All the sidewalks will be redone, decorative light poles will be installed and landscaping will make the area appealing to the eyes as well as functional by creating more parking space.

"I believe it will create an atmosphere of belonging," Lunsford said of those businesses off the square.

"I hope it will make everyone one big, happy family."

Just because the building is gone doesn’t mean Flattops and Fiddles is closing its doors for good. The barbershop closed recently closed permanently.

Don Brown is relocating his family-owned music store from where it has been since 1993, to 79 North Court Square, two doors down from Byrd Drug Co.

But, other concerns have involved the old barbershop pole and some of the items inside where men used to gather for a cut and conversation.

Lunsford said the city is planning to donate the pole and mirrors to the Pike Pioneer Museum. He said the senior citizens center has also requested some of the items.

Consulting engineers on the project are Bob Carter and Associates, LLC. Dale Fritz and Associates, Inc. is handling the landscaping, architecture and planning.