17 replies to this topic

[Southron]

News, projects and construction in Gadsden and Etowah County...

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News and project links:

Downtown Gadsden news

City of Gadsden project updates

[Southron]

Mayor Sherman Guyton's "Save our Neighborhoods" program includes rehabilitating some homes that would have been demolished as public nuisances. The city may be able to save 10 to 25 percent of the 40 to 60 structures that are torn down each year.  Work costs will be billed to the owners and assessed to the property if the owner does not pay.

Kudos to the mayor and city council for working to save buildings that can be renovated.

Gadsden Times:  Gadsden Council OKs house rehab program

[kayman]

Gadsden has always seemed to be the most progressive of the East Central Alabama cities.  It was the first in the region to want to rehabiliate its park system, improve its riverfront and downtown, draw more tourism, and maintain its city school district to high standards.

[Alabadrock]

Leonard23, on May 11 2007, 10:05 AM, said:

Gadsden has always seemed to be the most progressive of the East Central Alabama cities. It was the first in the region to want to rehabiliate its park system, improve its riverfront and downtown, draw more tourism, and maintain its city school district to high standards.

They've definitely done a good job.  Especially with the schools.  Combining into Gadsden City was a great move.  I remember, my grandmother telling me how she went to Gadsden High School, the old building.  My dad would always tell me about the times when Litchfield was an OK school.  

They've done a great job with revival, they're really making use of their assets.

[Southron]

A developer is considering a 50 to 65 acre site on Alabama 77 for a 500,000-square-foot lifestyle center that would feature at least two big box stores. The development would be almost twice the size of the Coosa Town Center.

The city is marketing property in East Gadsden at Hood Avenue and East Broad Street, where officials would like to have two upscale restaurants, retail space or office space. The property would be the "gateway" to East Gadsden.

The owners of the River Trace Golf Course in East Gadsden are talking to three developers about the selling the 103 acre property.

Gadsden Times:  Developer looking at Alabama 77 site


Looks like Gasden has some significant new retailers on the way.

[Alabadrock]

ExpatBaman, on May 18 2007, 12:21 PM, said:

A developer is considering a 50 to 65 acre site on Alabama 77 for a 500,000-square-foot lifestyle center that would feature at least two big box stores. The development would be almost twice the size of the Coosa Town Center.

The city is marketing property in East Gadsden at Hood Avenue and East Broad Street, where officials would like to have two upscale restaurants, retail space or office space. The property would be the "gateway" to East Gadsden.

The owners of the River Trace Golf Course in East Gadsden are talking to three developers about the selling the 103 acre property.

Gadsden Times: Developer looking at Alabama 77 site


Looks like Gasden has some significant new retailers on the way.

Gadsden's always been a regional center, it's nice to see that some retail is taking notice.  

East Gadsden sounds really good, except, it seems like traffic would be horrendous on Meighan after this was built.

[EvanK]

Traffic is already horrendous on Meighan.  Part of the reason is, Gadsden is outgrowing its main roads, they need more lanes, and the traffic lights.  OMG, this town has never heard of synching traffic lights.  heh.  That area around Coosa Towne Center has horrible traffic, from Goodyear all the way to Attalla.

[Alabadrock]

EvanK, on May 21 2007, 12:54 PM, said:

Traffic is already horrendous on Meighan. Part of the reason is, Gadsden is outgrowing its main roads, they need more lanes, and the traffic lights. OMG, this town has never heard of synching traffic lights. heh. That area around Coosa Towne Center has horrible traffic, from Goodyear all the way to Attalla.

Well, I've seen worse than Meighan so, I didn't wanna call it horrible now.  But, Gadsden isn't alone in the traffic light thing.  Decatur is AWFUL as well.  Neither the Beltline or 6th Avenue are synched.  They're supposed to be doing all of that soon, but, obviously, they haven't started.

[kayman]

EvanK, on May 21 2007, 12:54 PM, said:

Traffic is already horrendous on Meighan.  Part of the reason is, Gadsden is outgrowing its main roads, they need more lanes, and the traffic lights.  OMG, this town has never heard of synching traffic lights.  heh.  That area around Coosa Towne Center has horrible traffic, from Goodyear all the way to Attalla.

The reason why Gadsden doesn't have synchronized traffic signals is because their MPO, which is totally independent of the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission (EARPDC) that handles Anniston MPO, hasn't made an effort to do so.  Anniston has all its traffic signals within its MPO service area on a synchronized system since 2004.  There has been a federal grant set aside synchronization for awhile now, but Gadsden seems to not care to take advantage of this money.

[Southron]

Gadsden installed a traffic circle at Cleveland Avenue and Haralson Avenue, and another will be installed at Randall Street and Turrentine Avenue this week.  According to a city official, stop signs at the intersections might eventually be replaced with yield signs, and something decorative may be put in the middle of the circles.  Councilman Bill Stewart said the traffic circles are an experiment to see if they will slow down traffic and keep motorists from running stop signs.

Gadsden Times:  City hopes traffic circles will help slow down drivers on roadways

[kayman]

ExpatBaman, on Jun 14 2007, 07:49 PM, said:

Gadsden installed a traffic circle at Cleveland Avenue and Haralson Avenue, and another will be installed at Randall Street and Turrentine Avenue this week.  According to a city official, stop signs at the intersections might eventually be replaced with yield signs, and something decorative may be put in the middle of the circles.  Councilman Bill Stewart said the traffic circles are an experiment to see if they will slow down traffic and keep motorists from running stop signs.

Gadsden Times:  City hopes traffic circles will help slow down drivers on roadways

The traffic circle in Jacksonville Square has seem to solved a lot of their problems, so the same will be likely for Gadsden.

[Southron]

According to Census Bureau estimates, Gadsden's population declined by 4.5% between 2000 and 2006, while Southside's population increased by 14.9% and Rainbow City's increased by 6.4%.  The population of Etowah County as a whole decreased slightly, by .1%

Gadsden Times:  Cities seeing growth

[kayman]

Etowah County is basically stuck in a holding pattern when comes to population.

[Alabadrock]

Leonard23, on Jul 17 2007, 12:11 PM, said:

Etowah County is basically stuck in a holding pattern when comes to population.

It's the same way with all of the former industrial hubs of the state.  Gadsden was a huge industrial center, prior to Birmingham's founding, it was second to Mobile.  But of course, as all the industrial hubs have done, the city proper has declined and the suburbs have exploded.

[flies4fun]

Hospital is expanding. Gadsden RMC

[Alabadrock]

flies4fun, on Jul 18 2007, 09:50 PM, said:

Hospital is expanding. Gadsden RMC

Wow, Gadsden Regional is already quite a large hospital.

[Southron]

The Gadsden city council approved incentives for a new plant that would employ 174 workers at an average of $37,000 per year.  Good to see some new jobs coming to Gadsden.

Gadsden Times:  Gadsden Council OKs agreement for new industry

[Southron]

As part of a $305 million bond issue, the state agreed Wednesday to provide $20 million toward the $125 million modernization of the Gadsden Goodyear plant, preserving 1,400 jobs.  Gov. Bob Riley promised another $10 million in training support for the Goodyear project.

Gadsden Times:  State gives Goodyear $20 million