Eufaula

[Southron]

Built on a bluff overlooking a 45,000-acre lake, Eufaula is located in southeastern Alabama along the Alabama-Georgia border, about 90 miles southeast of Montgomery. According to 2006 Census estimates, Eufaula's population was 13,350.

Eufaula prospered as an inland cotton port on the Chattahoochee River and developed an impressive stock of antebellum and late 19th century architecture. The Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District is the largest in East Alabama and second-largest in Alabama. The city boasts over 700 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Links:

City of Eufaula

Strategic Plan:

• Eufaula 2020 Plan

• Land Use Regulations

Main Street Eufaula

Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge

[Southron]

Rails to Trails Project

The city of Eufaula has been buying property from the railroad for the past 9 years, and is now 3 months away from turning the rail line into a trail for bikers and walkers. The city will build the trail to the trestle in phase one, and then over part of Lake Eufaula in phase two. The asphalt trail will be 12 feet wide, and will cost just under a million dollars, mostly federal grant money.

WFSA-TV: Rails To Trails In Eufaula

[Southron]

The city of Eufaula repaired 20 houses as part of a revitalization project in the Riverside Heights neighborhood. The project was mostly funded by a Community Development Block Grant. It's great to see smaller cities taking action to repair substandard homes and improve neighborhoods. I wish our big cities would do more things like this on a larger scale.

Eufaula Tribune: Riverside Heights project completed

[Southron]

Eufaula city officials recently brought in sustainability experts to advise them on land use and developing an alternate route to US 431. The Audubon Partnership for Sustainability recommended that the city ask that ALDOT (good luck) build the new route as a parkway with narrow right-of-way, trees on both sides and in visually-appealing medians, walking and biking lanes at a safe distance alongside, lighting for motorists and pedestrians, and a speed limit of 50 to 55 instead of 65 mph. They also recommended using roundabouts to and from the route to improve traffic flow.

As part of the city's revision of land use policy under the Eufaula 2020 plan, the experts recommended that growth occur in areas where infrastructure exists, such as northern Eufaula (because of projected growth at Fort Benning), downtown and the South Eufaula Avenue business district. Growth should be restricted in western Eufaula, mainly because of slope, soil and water conditions.

The Partnership will present final recommendations in a few months.

Eufaula Tribune: Looking ahead

Smart Growth Online: Eufaula Welcomes Expert Help for Land-Use Policy Revisions

I wish we could get every city in Alabama to do something like this, and actually implement the recommendations.