Residents express their vision of Fairview Avenue renewal

Feb 8, 2010 — Montgomery Advertiser

Jill Nolin

Feb. 7, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The week started with a blur of brightly colored markers scribbling eagerly on large grayscale maps of the West Fairview Avenue area.

Those dreary maps, taking on an ambience not unlike the one found in the west Montgomery community, came to life as residents like Valerie Wood, Karen Jones, Lavelle McClain and Flora Brown etched out their ideas on their respective maps.

"Something snazzy. Think of something good," Wood said to Jones as the women pondered over how to transform a particular building.

Jones wrote out "jazz bar" on the building.

"Thank you, yes," Wood said in obvious approval.

Similar ideas were sprawled out on the maps and were incorporated into the preliminary master plan created after a week of intense planning. Some notes were green circles where residents thought trees were needed. Purple lines along the streets were sidewalks.

"We know lots of things about West Fairview. We're missing one big piece of information and that's what you want," city Planning Director Ken Groves said to the more than 140 people at the kickoff meeting Monday night.

Those residents weren't bashful about letting planners know what they envision for their neighborhood.

"What we need first and foremost is variety. Right now, it's one-dimensional," resident Larry Peterson said. Suggestions were a mixed bag, including everything from a reputable bank to a movie theater to fine dining.

"We want some restaurants so we don't have to leave for the east side or any other side after 4 o'clock," said K.T. Brown, a Cottage Hill resident who is active in west Montgomery.

For Mark Kimbrough, his dream for his neighborhood is a simple one.

"I know it's unrealistic, but I'd like to not have to lock my door," said Kimbrough, a resident of Malvern Street.

Those suggestions were mixed in with the desires of city officials and the expert analysis of the terrain and of the local economic factors, resulting in a preliminary master plan that can be found on the planning department's Web page at www.montgomeryal.gov.

Dover Kohl and Partners from Coral Gables, Fla., which is the same firm that created Montgomery's downtown master plan, agreed to do the work for $30,000. The city paid another $10,000 to economist Ed Starkey for his contribution.

"If you build this ... you'll build the best street in Montgomery, and this community deserves that," said Jason King, town planner for Dover Kohl.

The lofty images created as a result of the planning are not recognizable as vistas currently along West Fairview Avenue because they represent what the thoroughfare could look like one day in the distant future. The goal, King said, is to turn West Fairview Avenue, which he described as a "placeless place," into a distinctive area of which residents can be proud.

While the grander goals will take five years, 10 years or even longer to realize, some of the smaller-scale plans are scheduled for implementation within the first year. Some of those steps include the following:

--The City Council could approve the plans, which would give the vision the "force of law." This would mostly affect zonings in the area so the properties eventually assume the desired role in the community.

--Create a tax increment financing district, which is what was done in downtown. A TIF district generates money by freezing property values at the level that they were when the district officially was created. As property values increase in a TIF district, the new property tax revenue is set aside in a special fund that only can be used on capital projects in the district.

--Identify funding for one block of West Fairview Avenue and work toward redeveloping it. One such block could be where the old Sears building has long sat vacant.

A more long-term project would be a police substation, which is scheduled to happen in the next five years. The planners recommended putting the substation in a prominent location along West Fairview Avenue. Planners also said sidewalks would increase security by putting more eyes on the street.

Affordable housing, which was also identified as a priority for the area, could happen sooner rather than later, according to Starkey. The economist recommended what he called "courtyard housing," which are small homes that face a shared courtyard area.

A 480-square-foot courtyard home would cost about $64,000, making it affordable for someone with a $17,000 income, and a larger 1,112-square-foot home would cost about $120,500 and be affordable for someone earning $28,500 a year, according to Starkey.

A mixed-income housing development called Lanier Place is currently under development off E.D. Nixon Avenue.

"Substandard housing that is affordable because it's cheap is not what we're looking for," Starkey said after noting the low property values that are prevalent in the targeted area.

Other goals include constructing connector roads to relieve pressure on the existing roads and create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, as well as creating a center turn lane on West Fairview Avenue. Crosswalks at intersections are also recommended.

Mayor Todd Strange stressed that, in some cases, the plans would take years to materialize.

"We're excited about that opportunity, but at the same time, we have to manage the expectations," Strange said last week.

Deputy Mayor Jeff Downes told the group Friday night that the city was committed to finding the funding for the projects. Currently, about $8.2 million in potential funding has been identified for projects. Most of that funding is from various state and federal agencies.

Of the $1 million projected cost for Genetta Park, a stream restoration project at the corner of Fairview and Interstate 65, about $380,000 of city funds were used to acquire the property. The city also intends to use $2 million of the municipal court's corrections fund for a police substation if the Alabama Legislature allows the city to use that money for capital projects rather than operating costs.

Jones, the resident, said she was concerned about the work ending at Interstate 65. Doing that, she said, would turn West Fairview Avenue into the "black Beverly Hills" and create a disparity for those on the other side of the interstate.

"You can't go from the 'hood' to the 'Hills,'" Jones said. "It's not fair to my people over here (past the interstate) because my people over here (on West Fairview Avenue) will be living it up."

Jones also expressed concerns about the West Fairview Avenue area becoming gentrified, displacing low-income residents.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0128-41864778