Downtown is nothing short of a picturesque scene, but the city of Tuscaloosa, under the direction of Mayor Walter Maddox, is preparing itself for a revitalization in its proudest area.
Maddox has approved a plan by Cooper Consulting out of Dallas, Texas for the greater downtown area. The plan is meant to grow downtown to meet the needs of residents, tourists and UA students alike.
“Your central city is the gateway to your community,” Maddox said. “It’s how developers, tourists and residents judge your city. Infrastructure downtown has been aging and deteriorating. We have to restore these vital utilities and this plan gave us an opportunity to do that.”
The revitalization plan covers the area from Black Warrior River on the north and Queen City Avenue on the east, to 15th Street on the south and Marin King Jr. Boulevard on the west. It makes suggestions for improvements downtown that include everything from increasing residency in the area to improving the landscape and overall view.
“Revitalization is going to be a long, on-going process,” said John McConnell, deputy director of planning and economic development. “All of it depends on money, and the types of infrastructure projects you’re seeing out here take lots and lots of money. We’re lucky to have a senator in Washington who can obtain federal dollars for us to do these projects because the city can only do public [not private] projects.”
McConnell said he believes that improving infrastructure is the key to the complete revitalization of downtown.
“Infrastructure encourages private reinvestment,” McConnell said. “Downtown was dead, and the businesses had moved out to the suburbs. There was no encouragement for private property owners to do more, but this plan generates excitement and increases property values.”
The plan has also incorporated the wants and needs of students in the Tuscaloosa area, Maddox said.
“This plan is attractive in terms of recruitment for the University,” Maddox said. “The University not only has to sell itself but the city that the students live in. It’s important that we have a first class city for our students to arrive to. It’s also important for the University because the opportunity to live, work and play will likely happen outside of campus. We want to create a fun environment for our students and we’re well on the way to making that happen.”
UA students agree, hoping that the new plan will offer a plethora of exciting entertainment options in an area that some say has seemed run-down for so long.
“More music venues are definitely something I’d like to see more of downtown, especially venues that aren’t also bars,” said Savanna Lauderdale, a junior majoring in English. said. “I don’t spend a ton of time downtown unless I’m going to dinner because there’s not a whole lot to do down there at night other than eating. I’d really like to see other things that students can do open up there.”
“This is a complete plan,” Maddox said. “We hope everyone, whether 18 or 80, will now be able to enjoy coming downtown.”
