Pretty on Peruvian

The construction barriers are gone and lane closures are a thing of the past.

The $1.3 million project to upgrade the streetscape along the 400 block of Peruvian Avenue, which began in October, was completed last week.

“We were finished ahead of schedule and within budget,” said Tony Sabatino of Burkhardt Construction. Sabatino was the project manager on the job.

“The job went smoothly, with few complaints, and was done on time,” said Public Works Director Paul Brazil. “We would consider it a success overall.”

The Town Council voted last fall to allow construction to continue on the block, between South Lake Drive and Cocoanut Row, until Jan. 31.

Architect Mark Marsh of the island firm Bridges, Marsh & Associates designed the streetscape with landscape design by Sanchez & Maddux of Palm Beach.

The 850-foot-long block was fully resurfaced, with historic-style street lighting and seashell-embedded Tabby concrete sidewalks installed.

More than 600 annuals, 31 ylang-ylang trees, 18 coconut palms and eight royal palms were planted along the stretch.

“We could not be more pleased with the result,” said Debra Beard, a Peruvian Avenue resident who spearheaded the effort to upgrade the stretch. “It’s totally changed the atmosphere on the street and we achieved our goal, which was to give the block a more appropriate residential look.”