By John Gallagher
The City of Trussville will be hosting a public forum on its downtown master plan on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in Trussville City Hall. The city’s consultant, KPS Group, will make a presentation and the public will be invited to give feedback.
Over the past 30 years, Trussville has gone from a population of 3,500 to 20,000. The city is expected to continue to grow. The master plan is designed to restore and revitalize Downtown Trussville.
The downtown area is the heart of the city and vital to its continued growth
. The forum will make clear the issues to be faced in the revitalization, and address and hear current issues from the public about such an undertaking. The plan, once adopted, is expected to define the future development of Downtown Trussville.
According to the 2006 Trussville Comprehensive Plan, “The core of Trussville has lost a lot of its charm. Much of it is in disrepair, the center of the local economy has shifted and many important functions have relocated. Commercial strips and shopping centers have taken away many of the functions of the core, but most everyone finds those places lacking the kind of community experience they once enjoyed in the city core area.”
Thus, the downtown area is to become more accessible to pedestrians. Historic and natural landmarks are to be maintained. Small businesses are encouraged to open in the downtown area.
More side streets are to be added, so parking and delivery will be behind the stores and off Main Street. Housing in the area is to be detached, low and medium density. These and other designs of a practical, historic and aesthetic nature are in the plan.
Of course, the plan is merely long-term advice. Plans evolve and are revised to meet the growing needs and demands of the community. In the end, it is the city and its residents who will decide the true future of Downtown Trussville.