TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- After months of planning, the Tehachapi City Council gave the city the OK to start soliciting bids for the Centennial Plaza downtown.

The planned Centennial Plaza will turn the parking lot along Green Street into a park and plaza with a stage for live entertainment, benches, walkways and even a 6-foot-tall wall of water fountain.

Mayor Linda Vernon said the plaza is another way the city is working to promote walkability downtown.

“It’s certainly going to be a gathering place. It’s going to bring people, not only the members of our community, but also a gathering place for visitors as well, so it will bring more business to the downtown area.”

Most business owners are excited about the new plaza and what it could mean for business.

Ray Haddad, who owns Tehachapi Automotive, said, "It could help us as business owners to be prosperous. So absolutely, when you beautify things, other people look at it in a positive manner and they will invest their money in downtown.”

But other business owners do have some concerns, like what will happen to all of the parking

Kathryn Hinkle, who owns Picture Perfect and Stamps of Approval, said, “I really have mixed emotions about it. I am quite excited because I love anything that is green, and outdoors and parks. I think it’s beautiful and good for the earth, but I’m concerned because there are so many businesses here that we may get less parking.”

Vernon said with the layout, the Centennial Plaza will actually boast eight more parking spots.

The project is able to happen thanks to a stimulus grant from the state for beautification and revitilazation.

Vernon said, “We were able to obtain a grant that is about $428,000 and then the city has a matching portion of about $69,000. That will come from our redevelopment agency, not our general fund.”

Vernon said the plaza is apart of a 2004 downtown revitilzation plan and said getting stimlus money for the project is icing on the cake.

The city will begin soliciting bids on Friday and hope to have construction started in April and the plaza finished just in time for the annual Mountain Festival in August.