Downtown Lumberton has gotten a facelift with the addition of stone-and-stucco fence that hides gaps between buildings along Main Street.

The fence was the project of several area businesses, including Mississippi Green Built, Ockmand Enterprises and OPM Financial Consortium.

“The business owners took the situation under their control,” said Lumberton Mayor Aaron Lott, who’s also the manager of Mississippi Green Built.

Mississippi Green Built donated blocks to build the fence, OPM Financial Consortium donated stones. Ockmand Enterprises was among the businesses that helped pay for the labor.

Owner Paul Ockmand said he was tired of waiting for the city to receive grants or do the job itself. He declined to say how much he donated.

“The (old) fence blew down in Katrina and our awnings were in shambles,” Ockmand said. “We decided enough was enough, and we had to do something.”