Learn

This comprehensive streetscape renovation transformed Montevallo’s downtown by adding widened, ADA compliant sidewalks, moving utility lines underground, installing new historic-looking light poles with banner arms, and updating our 4 main intersections with new traffic arms and lights, walk signals, and cobblestone sidewalks that tie into the aesthetics of the University of Montevallo. In addition, we built two pocket parks downtown—Owl’s Cove Park, which replaced a parking lot with a beautiful park that is home to several live music events every year, and Bicentennial Park, home to our “Big Red” clock and bicentennial time capsule on a site which was previously a vacant lot. A number of private property improvements and public art have followed the streetscape.

This $5 million project was primarily funded through a federal TAP grant, with the 20% in matching funds coming from the Montevallo Development Cooperative District. Founded in 2012, the MDCD is comprised of 3 partners—the City of Montevallo, the University of Montevallo, and Shelby County—who jointly do projects that improve our community. The city’s financial contribution to the MDCD is 90% of a 1% sales tax increase.

Construction began in January 2017 and was completed in spring of 2018. We know that, since Montevallo became a Designated Main Street community in June 2016, we have had over $5.6 million in public investment downtown, which has inspired over $6.2 million in private investment by downtown business and property owners over this period of time. We have also had 23 net new or relocating businesses open downtown, with a net of 39 new jobs created. 

Past attendees include:

– Mayor Sharon Anderson ‘99

– Herman Lehman ’04; City Clerk

– Amy Feger ‘06

– Mayor Ben McCrory ‘09

– Mayor Hollie Cost ‘15

– Courtney Bennett ’18; Main Street Montevallo Director