River City renaissance

River City renaissance
Downtown redevelopment effort kicks off with $1.6 million; Athens State commits to fine arts campus
By Eric Fleischauer
Staff Writer
The Decatur Daily

The kickoff event for a downtown Decatur redevelopment drive Wednesday included the announcement that even during a recession the campaign has secured $1.6 million in commitments toward its $2.5 million goal.

Additionally, Athens State University President Robert Glenn committed $3.2 million from the institution toward a downtown fine arts school, to be developed in coordination with Calhoun Community College.

Partnership for Progress is raising the $2.5 million in seed money from area leaders as the first step in an ambitious plan to transform the Bank Street and Second Avenue areas into a cohesive and attractive city center.

Downtown goals

The goals set forth by the Partnership for Progress track those included in Envision Decatur, a 2002 study receiving communitywide input.

Using a combination of campaign funds, private investment and government grants, the Partnership for Progress expects to:


•Create Decatur Commons, a technology-oriented business park that would run along Dry Creek from the Tennessee River to Gordon Drive.

•Extend streetscape plans to connect Bank Street and Second Avenue.

•Locate a downtown fine arts campus and an art district near the Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts.

•Build a pedestrian flyover linking the river to the downtown area.

•Begin a revolving fund through which vacant downtown property could be purchased, improved and re-sold to private developers.
Glenn’s announcement adds impetus to the concept of a fine arts campus that would include residences for its students.

“It’s going to do more than just revitalize downtown Decatur,” Glenn said. “It’s also going to revitalize our education and the way we award baccalaureate degrees. We’re going to be on the cutting edge.”

The combined benefits to Athens State, Calhoun and Decatur convinced Glenn to support the project.

He said the campus would begin with an art school, then add drama, music and dance instruction.

“I am excited enough about this project to make commitments to it,” Glenn said. “As president of Athens State University, I have made a commitment for our institution to spend up to $3.2 million on the first phase of this project.”

The commitment, he said, is consistent with his university’s goals.

“We have made this commitment without hesitation because we believe it’s the right thing for Athens State, it’s the right thing for Calhoun, it’s the right thing for Morgan County and Decatur,” Glenn said. “And more importantly, it’s the right thing for our students.”

“The generosity of the people in this town never ceases to amaze me,” said Partnership for Progress Campaign Chairman Wally Terry.

About 80 people attended a breakfast meeting at Turner-Surles Recreation Center, next to a vacant railroad depot that, if the plan is successful, will be renovated as a museum.

The early success in the campaign surprised many given the economic slowdown.

David Breland, co-chairman of the leadership council and a retired district judge, said Decatur’s history is riddled with surprising perseverance.

The Civil War left Decatur with three buildings standing. In the 1880s, a Yellow Fever epidemic almost wiped out the city. In the Great Depression, the Louisville & Nashville Railroad shops closed, eliminating more than half the city’s jobs.

After each disaster, Decatur came back.

“We are a city that not only dreams things, we accomplish things,” Breland said. “Downtown redevelopment is going to be the next step in doing that.”

The city already has accomplished some of the goals, including development of Ingalls Harbor, refurbishment of Delano Park, creation of a pocket park on Second Avenue Southeast and staffing of the Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority.

The authority, led by Executive Director Rick Paler, erected way-finding signs and has obtained grants for a streetscape and for the old railroad depot.

Terry closed the meeting by describing successful downtown redevelopment efforts in other cities, especially Greenville, S.C.

“Why not Decatur?” he asked, slapping a sticker on his lapel that asked the same question.

Downtown contributors

The kickoff of Partnership for Progress, a campaign to raise $2.5 million for downtown redevelopment, included thanks to contributors whose combined commitments total $1.6 million.

Among the contributors are:


•Allegra Print & Imaging

•Bank Independent

•Bank Street Antique Mall

•Dr. Bill Sims

•City of Decatur

•Cook’s Pest Control

•David Breland

•Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau

•Del Monte Foods

•Eyster, Key, Tubb, Roth, Middleton & Adams LLP

•Fite Building Co. Inc.

•Gateway Commercial Brokerage

•Hargrove & Associates

•Holiday Inn Decatur

•Hyosung USA Inc.

•John Thornton

•McWhorter Communications

•Morgan County Commission

•Murphy Brown

•Parkway Medical Center

•Petroleum Sales Inc.

•Peebles Oil Company Inc.

•Peoples Bank of Alabama

•Pepsi Cola Decatur LLC

•RBC Bank

•Red Sage Communications

•Regions Bank

•Renasant Bank

•Rick Paler

•S.S. Nesbit Co.

•The Decatur Daily

•Temple Inc.

•Terry Roche

•Underwood & Associates

•United Launch Alliance

•Willo Products Company