NEWS

The Partnership for Progress Campaign continues to garner support. The campaign has now reached $2,390,110.00 of its $2.5 million goal. Campaign funds will be used for revitalization projects in the downtown area.

Plans are underway to create a new pocket park on the corner of Lee Street and Canal Street. This area of downtown is important to downtown revitalization because it links the Bank Street and 2nd Avenue districts together. The DDRA expects to release more information about the park soon.

The Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority is pleased to announce the addition of Connie Torbert as office manager. Connie is a Decatur native and has lived here all of her life. Connie has a BS degree from Athens State in Education. She has worked in education and has spent the last eleven years in Human Resources. Connie comes to the Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority with a love of the beautiful and historic architecture of Decatur and a passion and heart for the redevelopment and revitalization of the Downtown area. Along with her office manager duties, Connie will also focus on grant writing.

The DRA would like to congratulate Wally Terry, Chairman of the Partnership for Progress campaign, on his new position as Director of General Services for the city of Decatur. Wally will continue to stay actively involved in the redevelopment of Downtown Decatur.

The School of Fine Arts, born of a partnership between Athens State University and Calhoun Community College, is underway. The architectural and design firm of PH&J, out of Montgomery, have been selected and the design work is now in progress. The site testing is currently being done and it is expected that the work will begin prior to the end of the year.

Plans and specs for the 2nd Ave. streetscape have been completed and presently are under final review by the Alabama Department of Transportation. The next step will be final approval and taking bids. We are hoping to start this project by mid fall.

The old Railroad Depot plans and specs are completed and have been approved by the Alabama Building Commission. The next step is an appraisal regarding the acquisition of the property and subsequent development using ALDOT Transportation Enhancement funds.

Survey work has been completed on the Hwy.20/Wilson St. Pedestrian Overpass. It is anticipated to be located between Canal and Ferry Streets and crossing over to the Rhodes Park side of Highway 20. Scott Schoel has done the artists renderings and the design is still in the developing stages.

The DRA is in the process of setting up downtown development action teams. These will be teams that will provide facilitation, advocacy, assistance and mentoring to new and expanding businesses in the downtown area. Two committees that have been set up are: