Changes coming to downtown district
By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Compared to many similar-sized towns, Hartselle’s downtown is remarkably vibrant.
Maintaining that vibrancy, however, proves to be increasingly challenging, as a string of stores downtown have closed or have announced plans to do so.
That phase has included several closings, including Main Street Bistro and Country Classics Antiques. Polka Dots on Railroad Street has announced plans to move to a family-owned building four doors down, requiring Las Vias Mexican restaurant to find a new home. Suzy’s Hallmark is also up for sale.
Tankersley said keeping up with the changes has been a challenge.
Tankersley said he has met with owners of Las Vias about keeping them in Hartselle. And, owners of the popular Cahoots restaurant on Nanceford Road are relocating to downtown, moving to the former Main Street Bistro and Old Town Antiques sites. Renovations on both locations are underway.
Economic group focuses on downtown, too
It’s easy for those interested in economic development to focus on Highway 31 or Hartselle’s interstate exchanges. But keeping good businesses downtown is important to economic development, according to Bob Francis, chairman of Hartselle’s Economic Development Board.
Tankersley said the economic impact of downtown isn’t always obvious if you look at tax receipts, but in the intangible presentation of the city.
Frances said his group considers downtown one of four areas of focus for development. His concern is not attracting businesses to the area but keeping them open.
Maintaining the looks of downtown
Downtown is a mix of old buildings, some renovated, others not.
The Central Business Review Board oversees the look of downtown stores and any changes have to be approved by the board. If a storeowner wants to paint the building anything different than its current color scheme, they must receive board permission.
The Central Business District also has its own sign ordinance.
Businesses can have sidewalk displays as long as there is at least 5 feet of sidewalk from the edge of the sign or display to the road. There are also limits on banners and outside signs, with limits based on the size of the sign and the size of the building.
According to Jeff Johnson with the city’s Department of Development, the ordinance doesn’t cover the inset of the buildings and storeowners can display items outside in that area.
Johnson said there have been some complaints about items displayed on the sidewalk and the city has asked some storeowners to move displays.
The look of downtown is important, Frances said, and it’s up to the storeowners to maintain that appearance.
The sidewalks and metal awnings are city property. The city has received a streetscape improvement grant to help with improvements to both.
That $480,000 grant will include changes to lighting, landscaping, sidewalk work and repair of canopies from Railroad to Sycamore streets. The city has applied for a separate $500,000 state grant to complete the renovations.
