It’s growing right beyond Welsh’s fence on Mapp Road.
The growing Welsh sees is the result of the $6.7 million Mapp Road Town Center Project that is part of the larger community redevelopment area plan for Old Palm City, more than two decades in the making.
“People were not coming here to put a business or to live and work,” said Susan Kores, director of Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency.
Kores said one of the things they wanted to do was grow Mapp Road, creating a “Complete Street.” Kores said they added larger sidewalks, more parking spaces, crosswalks, bike lanes and better drainage.
They also added a new outdoor space and patio for residents, called Palm City Place.
“What happens is people also want to put their business here, because now people are walking by,” said Kores.
But for Welsh the growing, is growing on her.
“This is inevitable,” said Welsh. “As long as they keep that quaintness, then it’s fine with me.”