By Megan Miller, Editor
TRUSSVILLE – After initial mockups for the Trussville Downtown Redevelopment were released, TDRA has been working to try to find a way to provide incentive to downtown property owners to update their properties keeping consistent with designs by David Reese.
While the mayor, council and city attorney reviews the grant based proposal, Mayor Gene Melton has proposed a jump start plan to get two prominent downtown buildings renovated.
Mike Gunter, owner of the Main Street building where Brik Realty, Birds on a Fence and the Trussville Tribune are located, has been the first property owner to step up and volunteer to update his buildings using Reese’s designs.
In an email to the Trussville City Council, Mayor Gene Melton said in order to expedite the renovation process, he proposes the City purchases a right of way access to an alley behind Gunter’s buildings along North Chalkville Road, where Ma & Pa’s Cleaners used to be.
The city owned alley way stretches from Vann Circle, but stops short on North Chakville Road. With the city taking ownership, the alley will remain open to the public, and ensure access to the public parking lot behind the Trussville City Schools board offices. Melton said that the city acquiring the right-of-way was critical to the master plan for downtown.
Melton said the cost of the purchase is projected to be $39,000 for the “face lift,” plus $7,000 to reimburse Gunter for paving the ally, totaling $46,000. This estimate was determined though a County appraisal for his property, which divides out to $39.35 per square foot, however, the square foot price to the city would be less than half of that amount at $18.44 per square foot.
Gunter has committed to using the proceeds of the sale to upgrade his two Main Street buildings to match the architectural renderings and is prepared to start the project immediately.
“I had previously served on TDRA and I know how hard they’ve worked to get things going downtown,” Gunter said. “We loved the drawings as soon as we saw them and knew right away that we wanted to be the first property owners to renovate. This gives the city what they need and we’re excited about getting this done for Trussville.”
The proposed changes include demolition to top of walls, reconstruction of the walls to accept new EFS system with dental block, installing new EFS system around entrance and left portion of the building, adding window grids to match existing windows as depicted in the architectural renderings, painting of the exterior of the building and installing new awnings to match the architectural rendering. There will also be three exterior trees added, each 15 feet tall.
“If the council and TDRA would like to take advantage of the timing to face lift this property, all I will need is the Council to authorize the Mayor to purchase the right of way in question at next week’s Council meeting,” Melton said in an email to the council.
Melton said that as soon as the council closes on the property, Gunter has his contractor ready to begin work, and the renovations could be completed prior to the next election.
“The City’s investment in the right of way purchase will cover his expenses and we will not have set a precedent by meeting his previous request of a 75/25 incentive program offer,” Melton said.
Melton said this first project would serve as an example throughout the rest of the downtown redevelopment, and having the project completed within the next 45 days would be a “win-win” for TDRA and the city. Melton said this would also give himself, the council and the city attorney the time they need to review and discuss the details of a grant program to finish the revitalization of the downtown area.
“This is a great opportunity for the city to acquire necessary right of way, at below market value and have one of the most prominent buildings in downtown receive the first TRDA compliant upgrade,” said Melton.
20 Comments
Laura McCants Reddick- Reichert
YAYAYAYAY! IT will be beautiful!
Judy Williams Coleman
It will take a lot of work to try to make downtown look cute! Nothing much cute their
Chuck Biddinger
This is Melton’s long term project. I am happy for him. I am more happy that I moved out of Trussville so I do not have to fight the traffic.
Chuck Biddinger
This is Melton’s long term project. I am happy for him. I am more happy that I moved out of Trussville so I do not have to fight the traffic.
Shone Foley Waite
*THERE* is amazing potential downtown. What are you basing your opinions on?
Judy Williams Coleman
Shone Foley Waite when I drive through downtown Trussville it is a shame just nothing here! You want to see a cute town go to Northport now that’s a cute town!
Judy Williams Coleman
Shone Foley Waite when I drive through downtown Trussville it is a shame just nothing here! You want to see a cute town go to Northport now that’s a cute town!
Shone Foley Waite
Judy Williams Coleman I appreciate that Northport is cute, but we live in Trussville, so let’s stay on point. Northport probably took some TLC to be as cute as it is too.
Shone Foley Waite
Judy Williams Coleman I appreciate that Northport is cute, but we live in Trussville, so let’s stay on point. Northport probably took some TLC to be as cute as it is too.
Judy Williams Coleman
Shone Foley Waite you asked what I was basing my option on! This city needs to finish the park they started so we have a place to walk!
Judy Williams Coleman
Shone Foley Waite you asked what I was basing my option on! This city needs to finish the park they started so we have a place to walk!
Shone Foley Waite
Judy Williams Coleman I agree 100%. I just think to comment that the downtown has nothing cute is very negative since they are planning on renovating it all. The whole point of the renovation is to make it cute and desirable.
Judy Williams Coleman
Shone Foley Waite well if the do it that’s one thing but we shall see what a mess they make then run out of money! This city likes to tear down and tear up and not compleat things they start
Marilyn Raney
the park is an ALDOT project and the City has very little control over the timetable.
Lee Brewer
Funny how election time gets all kinds of things “jump-started”.
Lee Brewer
Shone Foley Waite all the city has done is spend $16k on a fence and then blame the state, that was 3 years ago.
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/06/contractor_out_fence_going_up.html
Scott Buttram
Chuck, the long-term project would be the master plan for downtown and the grant program recently unveiled by the Trussville Redevelopment Authority. This is a singular plan for two buildings with a unique set of circumstances. It does have promise, but the long range plan as outlined by RDA is the key to redeveloping downtown. That plan will need to be funded by the city council and I think the desire is there for that to happen. If the council moves forward with a funding plan, we’ll be looking at opportunities for dozens of buildings.
Chuck Biddinger
Scott, thanks for the update. If the folks in Trussville want to spend their $$$ on this, I have no problem. They must agree with Melton because he keeps getting reelected. Folks are very upset about the 200 new garden homes being built in Trussville city limits near Argo.
Melanie Saunders Hightower
Why hadn’t he already done it?
Jaime Melton Anderson
The council voted “no” last night on the jump-start proposal, requesting more time to consider purchasing the property. Hopefully they will reconsider the issue in a few weeks, because this proposed deal was more about the city acquiring needed property at a discount…the offer to update the facade to match TDRA renderings was a bonus. What always seems to be missing in these discussions is an acknowledgment by all parties that the majority of downtown is private property – even at last night’s council meeting, it was never stated plainly that only a few lots downtown are owned by the city and that no one can promise redevelopment. Neither the Mayor, Council or TDRA have any legal authority to force property owners to renovate their buildings. It would be beautiful if owners could make their properties look like the drawings we all love, but there isn’t much business incentive to update a fully-rented structure. The TDRA grant proposal aims to be that incentive over the long-run (all the city leaders agree that the TDRA has done great work putting the proposal together), but actual paint on mortar updates through a grant vehicle that is in the approval process will take time…this proposed first update could have been completed by Mr. Gunter’s contractor within the next 45 days. Citizens who feel the council shouldn’t be spending tax money on private property downtown would be displeased with both paths to redevelopment, because they both obligate taxpayer money.