Let’s Go 2021, Downtown Rebirth

4/14/2021 (4/14 ?? WHERE HAVE I BEEN?)

Spring has brought a whole myriad of ideas on several different fronts and will really effect our activities for months ahead. There have been 3 bible conferences scheduled for this year and perhaps a couple more to come, never can tell. We’ll have a trip to Kentucky and a trip to Indiana in our 2021, dates haven’t been set yet. Perhaps a trip to Texas and one or two trips from Texas to see us. We’re also pretty expectant about new stores coming into our Blue Jug group this year and hopefully, some short trips involving those. Busy year, so far, looks like it will continue.

When walking around our downtown, seeing all the empty store buildings, the not-in-use parking lots, etc., my mind goes into a “gear” I am reasonably sure I don’t understand. Maybe it will clear up or clear out soon — or not. Here’s one idea which has been fed by visiting another city:

[[Twice last year, I saw a really neat development in a southern city for the re-use of a large former retail space. In today’s modern traffic pattern this store building had been rendered disabled. It had no room along its front other than sidewalk. Some brilliant developer, however, had redecorated that front—leaving the walkable sidewalk, so that the now multi-store front was very attractive to drive or walk past. Then the developer went to the rear of the large building and put a “front” on the back which was even more inviting than the dressed-up front! The back of the building faced a city parking lot so, it seems, the developer made a wise move by getting the city to release to them a few (maybe 6) parking spaces. Then the developer curbed them, topsoiled some flower beds and shrubs, interlacing the area with an entrance walking path, curving through some tables & chairs with umbrellas—beautiful!! Two of the new and now existing stores were lightweight food servers—Chicken Salad Chick and a frozen yogurt place. The other two were high traffic small stores; women’s chic apparel and a gift shop—brilliant! 

We have a similar space here in our town and with a little consideration by the city, may not be too difficult to get the necessary adjustments in the small area of codes, I’m betting. Now to find the developer and the property owner and get them together. Seems like it should be a snap, right?]]

<<—Here’s an interesting side note to the above paragraphs: I mention the idea to a man who has recently opened a new business. He said he first thought of using part of that building (in my above idea) and that it had two very serious problems. First, the cellar fills up every heavy rain with no sump system at all and second, the roof over about 1/4th of the building is in bad shape. How, then, would that structural problem get resolved? Not a simple do! This doesn’t deter my idea, just makes it more difficult. Will it be worth it? Yes, think of the alternative —>>

[[Across from our Blue Jug store in our town sits a vacant building that has been for years now, an instigator in my visuals; my visions for that building’s changeover are continually forthcoming. This building actually faces a “side” street with a space from the corner of our main drag being a small city parking lot (maybe 50 spaces) seldom used at all during the daytime. It is designed for some special events which generally take place on weekends or nights. The adjacent vacant building (always in my view and ergo, always on my mind) is an old masonry building with poorly painted exterior walls. It does have an attractive, though somewhat dated retail front which faces the side (6th) street. The rest of this building needs remodel work—inside and out. So, along the side which faces the parking lot and therefore also faces the main North/South street, I keep seeing in my idea-crowded mind, a large doorway with sidelights about half way back and allowing for people stepping into the building directly from the parking lot.

This, then, would make two store spaces, 1300s.f in the back half of the building, and about the same facing the front of the building. What about that for re-use of a fine building which has been empty but not gone to ruin for about 6 years?]]

All I need to do these two things is money…..Oh. Someone else have money? I’ll give them my ideas.

There are two other downtown buildings absolutely necessary for the “21st Century” rebirth of downtown Fort Payne! If these and the first two were re-born, all the rest of downtown will fill up with good tenants, other buildings would get remodeled, some with downtown apartments above (one is being done right now!) and the “Boom Town” would be booming again!

[[The first of the other two has planning and preparation being done as I write. It is an old historical hotel, a well constructed building which just needs updating and repurposing. It will get done (time and circumstance prevailing.) And yes, I will try to give my ideas to the owner if and when I am privileged to do so.]]

[[The second, though, is more of a hardship to visualize. It is a one block long strip center in an old historical site. The center is well occupied, but has the look of a 1960s center, i.e., old and worn-out looking front. It needs a 21st Century facelift! If that were done vacancies would go away.]]

You might be saying, why is this old coot thinking of all this remodel stuff! I wish I knew. You might say, get your mind on things which matter! I’d say this matters. You might say since you don’t have any money, why don’t you just leave all your ideas out for all those who are interested to mull over and consider?……I just did. Let me know if I can help.

Thanks for reading, 

The Elder