By Crystal McGough, Editor
TRUSSVILLE – Sain Associates held a public forum at the Trussville Civic Center Tuesday night, Aug. 29, to give residents an opportunity to share their thoughts on what they would like to see built at Glendale Farms.
City Councilors Lisa Bright, Perry Cook and Alan Taylor were present, along with representatives from Trussville City Schools, ACTA Theatre, and more.
“The setup (was) for the community to be able to come and say what they would like to go on this big piece of property that the city has purchased,” Bright said. “In each four corners are bulletin boards that you can come in and take a sticky note and express what you would like to see be put on this property. We know through years of experience that, when we get the community involved and they’re engaged in the process, they are going to be more excited about things coming. It’s their city, it’s our city, we want everybody involved in the process.”
There was a good turnout for the event, and notes stuck to the bulletin boards ranged from citizens expressing concerns over traffic and pleas for the city not to allow housing to be built on the property, to requests for a sports complex, a performing arts center and other recreational facilities.
“We would like to see a performing arts center for our community,” said ACTA Theatre manager Paige Turner Cain. “ACTA Theatre has been operational for 37 years; we have an 86-seat theater. We are selling out seven shows a year, two kids’ camps and running afternoon children’s classes in a building that is just not set up for educational classes, extra rehearsal space and the kind of crowds that we’re hosting for all of our shows. We think that a performing arts center would serve the entire community and offer opportunities to all the citizens.”
Another possibility that has been considered by the city is a new elementary school to help reduce overcrowding at Paine Elementary.
“I think we’re looking to see what the comprehensive plan is with the education corridor,” Trussville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Martin said. “If that includes an elementary school, we’d start to have conversation about what rezoning may look like. But I think this is a good problem to have. People are moving to Trussville; they want to be part of Trussville City Schools. We just have to make sure we have the space and quality facilities to house all these students.”