THE REEMERGENCE OF DOWNTOWN SHEFFIELD HOW PUBLIC RENOVATION BROUGHT PRIVATE INVESTMENT Alabama Transportation Planners Association March 2017 Jesse E. Turner Director of Transportation Planning Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments Ian Sanford Mayor City of Sheffield
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Provide information and context useful to Public and Private investment Provide background on resource types (two primarily- Human Capital & Financial) Provide project ideas Give examples of connections between problems, assets and a few development resources Provide some tips and techniques for approaching solutions
THE PROBLEM? COMMUNITIES DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE RESOURCES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS You ve reached the stage where you know what your problem(s) is (are). Where should you to get started? No cookie-cutter approach, just a general orientation toward seeking progress. Long-term, often difficult, process of community development
SOLUTIONS BAD NEWS: No easy or direct answer GOOD NEWS: Depending on your problem, there are probably resources that can help Scarcity Insufficient (alone) Must be part of a general orientation toward community improvements Must be combined with local effort Most often accessible through a network of personal contacts
TYPES OF RESOURCES HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES: Leadership, Volunteers, Professionals, etc. All the knowledge, talents, skills, abilities, experience, intelligence, training, judgment, and wisdom possessed individually and collectively by individuals. These resources are the total capacity of the people that represents a form of wealth which can be directed to accomplish the goals of the nation or state or a portion thereof. FINANCIAL RESOURCES: Private investment (largest source), grants, loans, etc. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!!
GRANTS Community Development Block Grants Land and Water Conservation Fund Transportation Alternatives Grant US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program Appalachian Regional Commission Metropolitan Transportation Organization (urban areas) Each source has different funding criteria and process
HUMAN CAPITAL PREREQUISITES FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LOCAL CAPACITY INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT BUDGET PLANNING SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTING AUDIT COMPLIANCE CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND REGULATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT Communities have to be able to remain compliant!! LEADERSHIP A PLAN IDENTIFYING ASSETS, ISSUES AND CHALLENGES, AND STRATEGIES
SHEFFIELD, ALABAMA PROBLEM: DOWNTOWN DECLINES AFTER HIGHWAY RELOCATED Population-6,575 Jackson Highway/U.S Highway 43 routed through Sheffield from 1816 (Jackson Military Road) to 1963 when it was relocated outside of town. Within a generation, most businesses had left downtown and migrated to highway commercial corridors Landlocked city. Little room for growth. Per capita income: $19,416 (AL $23,936) Population decline: 13,491 in 1960 and 9,039 in 2010
2006 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN: REDEVELOPMENT PLAN & PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA Access and Linkage Comfort and Image Use and Activities Sociability
SHEFFIELD, ALABAMA SOLUTIONS: COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT IN ACCESS AND LINKAGES 2006 Downtown Sheffield Redevelopment Plan ($50,000) 2007 Community Development Block Grant- 3 rd Street/Ritz Theater ($352,000) 2007 Transportation Enhancement- Bicycle and Pedestrian Loop ($698,000) 2008 Land and Water Conservation Fund River Heritage Trail Phase I ($184,000) 2009 MPO Jackson Highway Streetscape Improvements ($2,095,000)* 2009 MPO 1 st to 3 rd Street ($604,000)* 2010 MPO- 3 rd to 5 th Street and Love Plaza ($444,000)* 2010-2013 MPO 2 nd Street Improvements (with Muscle Shoals) ($1,360,000)* 2013 MPO 2 nd Street/Cox Blvd Intersection Improvements ($731,000)* TOTAL: $6,518,000 in transportation improvements Pending: Avalon Avenue (with Tuscumbia), Cox Boulevard Redesign, Phase II and III River Heritage Trail
RESULTS Every major corridor into and out of Sheffield will be redesigned to include more appeal to residents and visitors New Streetscapes and Sidewalks Downtown Resurfaced and redesigned entries to downtown Business growth along revitalized corridors 16 new businesses in the past year alone Over $10,000,000 of private development Expected returns for 30 years Vacancy rate downtown dropping; no vacancies in remodeled buildings New residences downtown Day and evening commerce
THIRD STREET/RITZ THEATER CDBG
THIRD STREET/RITZ THEATER CDBG
THIRD STREET/MONTGOMERY AVENUE 2008
THIRD STREET/MONTGOMERY AVENUE 2014
GEORGE S 217: 217 MONTGOMERY AVENUE
THIRD STREET/MONTGOMERY AVENUE 2008
THIRD STREET/MONTGOMERY AVENUE 2014
FUTURE OF SHEFFIELD Rewards from public/private investments Attracting larger prospects
INSPIRATION LANDING Riverfront resort development on Tennessee River $160,000 investment: 150 room hotel, 4,500 seat amphitheater, and marina. $1.6 million tax generator annually 650 permanent jobs
THE KEYS TO SUCCESS Planning Redevelopment Plan with clearly illustrated Performance Criteria Partnerships with ADECA, ALDOT/MPO, NACOLG Grants Secured numerous grants: CDBG, ALDOT, MPO, LWCF, RTP Creativity in matching Persistence Over 10 years invested 4 quadrennial terms and 2 mayors Grants 3x not uncommon Meetings, meetings and more meetings