Name of ACE Community Montevallo
Reporting Year 2018
Email hlehman@cityofmontevallo.com
Phone 205-665-2555
Number of Business Licenses 1530
Number of Building Permits 162
Source (ex ADECA/CDBG, State Arts Council, Tourism Dept. etc)) ADECA / RTP, Reading is Fundamental, Pilcrow Foundation Grant, LSTA Grant, 5 Star, Shelby County
Amount (use only numbers, please, such as 5,000 or 100,000) 100000, 1200, 5000, 26000, 2000
Purpose (Sewer Expansion, Design Plan for City Center, etc) Trailhead Pavilion at Shoal Creek Park, 120 free books, Library Books, Picture books and supplies – library, creek bank restoration, Senior Center Grant – Supplies
New Business Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes
Business Name (Subway, etc) Southern Vape, Kimble’s Boutique, Brass Monkey Outfitters, Vwda’s
Investment Dollars ($) (number only)
Jobs Created (number only) 1, 1, 2, 2
Economic Impact Dollars ($) if known (number only)
Date
Event Name (How to Fundraise, etc)
Number Attending (number only)
Hosting Agency (Chamber of Commerce, City Council, etc)
Youth or Adult Youth
Leadership Development Description:
We have essentially the same groups as previous years. However, it is worth noting that our Montevallo Junior City Council(MJCC) has really taken off and has become a model of success for communities throughout Alabama, as well as across the Nation.
The mission of the Montevallo Junior City Council is to improve youth civic engagement and quality of life. (MJCC members consist of local middle and high school students enrolled in the local schools or living in the Montevallo area. These youth have completed projects such as: establishing a local teen center, developing a merchant discount card, raising funds to purchase baseball helmets, hosting a mayoral youth debate and sponsoring holiday events for youth. Montevallo youth are encouraged to attend public meetings held by the MJCC to express their interests and ideas.
In fact, the MJCC was one of the 2018 Civvys Winners. On October 18, 2018 at the National Conference in Citizenship in Washington, D.C., six inspiring initiatives were honored as winners of the 2018 American Civic Collaboration awards.
The six winners and 23 finalists represent outstanding examples of collaborative work that elevate democracy and civic engagement, at every level of American life. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, these organizations are working hard to build a better future, and inspire others to do the same.
COMMITTEE CHOICE AWARD: MONTEVALLO JUNIOR CITY COUNCIL
“In 2012, eight middle-schoolers in a small, rural Alabama community approached their mayor to start the first-ever Junior City Council in their town. Through the work of these young people, they established themselves as a political body, and their president sits on the dais at all City Council Meetings to represent the youth voice. The JCC hosts deliberative forums, developed a merchant discount card for teens and convened a mayoral debate, among other activities. Their nomination, submitted by an adult, noted, “In the decade I have worked in civic engagement, I have never seen a group of young people be given as much real power to make positive change in their community.”
Files Related to Leadership Development
Date of most recent Strategic Plan October 31, 2018
Date of most recent Strategic Action Plan October 31, 2018
Briefly describe progress in implementing sections of the strategic plan.
2018 Montevallo Strategic Plan
Specific to Downtown, the city’s recent Strategic Planning process elicited the following ideas from a variety of local stakeholders:
Targeted Development –
• Stakeholders recommended that new development should be located within a five-minute walk radius of the heart of Downtown Montevallo insofar as possible. New activity generators and destinations can help to activate Downtown as a destination.
• Create a Downtown Conference Center in the heart of Downtown Montevallo which
has the capacity to attract visitors to Main Street and the Civic Core. The vacant Victory building provides an ideal setting for a meeting/conference space, with its’ large clearstory windows and industrial architectural style. A new 90+ room hotel with lower-level parking can be tucked into the northern, down-hill side of the block, providing lodging and amenities for conferences and other events. Outdoor courtyards and vehicular drop off areas can be located at the center of the block. One of the most important attributes of a new conference center on Main Street, is that it is within short walking distance of the University of Montevallo, sports venues, shops and restaurants.
• Fill vacant buildings along Main street with artisan shops/classes, and dining/entertainment venues for both days and evenings.
• Develop a Hotel/conference Center on Main street. While many locations have previously been considered for lodging, this study recommends a destination venue for multi-day events and conferences for the University, community and outside organizations that would include lodging and meeting space within walking distance of Downtown shops, restaurants, parks, and campus facilities.
• Create a Spa /Wellness Retreat as a weekend getaway. A tranquil setting along Shoal Creek, within walking distance of Main Street would be ideal, and could serve as a get-away for residents and visitors to the area.
• Create a civic plaza adjacent to City Hall along Main Street. The old City Hall can be removed and replaced with.
• Consider adding ground floor retail or office space.
• Consider new multi-family housing within the five minute walk radius. Require traditional scale, massing and architectural style that blend with the existing historic character of main street and adjacent neighborhoods
• Explore creative housing styles such as pocket neighborhoods, tiny house villages, and tiny homes that will appeal to students, professors, and young professionals.
• Invite Road Scholars and visiting faculty to reside/visit in the downtown neighborhood.
• Create incentives for University faculty, staff, and students to live within walking distance of campus.
• Create infill housing in the Overland Rd area. Provide connectivity to existing dead-end streets, and require on-street parking, alleys and side/rear yard parking.
• Renovate older multi-family units.
• Proposed pocket neighborhoods Example of zero-lot line homes. Typical Multi-family Optional Single family homes.
• Proposed housing as a gateway to Island Street
• Proposed housing west of Montevallo Middle School a new outdoor gathering place that gives civic prominence to City Hall.
• Create inviting spaces along the edge of Orr Park. Locate art shows, antique car shows, market days, play areas and other attractions within direct view of Main Street.
• Explore the renovation of existing cottages along Valley Street as a new Artisan Village.
• New shops along Main Street, across from City Hall could offer dining and shopping for visitors to the proposed Conference Center.
• Create a new Community Center to host daytime activities for seniors and toddlers, after school care, and indoor recreation facilities for youth sports such as basketball, volleyball and other court sports.
• Promote music/storyteller venues.
• Expand Tinglewood Trail to Downtown area.
• Open a new Coffee shop!
Promote Connectivity –
• Connectivity is central to strong communities. Providing safe and easy ways to move around the community, particularly on bicycle or foot, fosters a healthier community with more opportunities to get to know your neighbors.
• A comprehensive Greenway system should be planned and developed in phases and should include multi-use paths along Hwy 119, Hwy 25, and Shoal Creek, and should link all of the City’s major attractions.
• Trails should include wide right-of-ways and easements. Allow for landscape buffers and provide plentiful shade and seating areas. Provide safe, comfortable sidewalk
connections between existing neighborhoods and destinations. One area of particular importance is the Highway 25 corridor. Safe walks and crossings should be provided at Hwy 25, Shelby Street, Middle Street, and all railroad crossings.
• One of the more interesting proposals that evolved out of this study is the idea of
• creating a one-way pair with Middle Street and Shelby Street. This would allow half of the width of Lovelady Bridge and the Shelby Street Bridge to be reserved for bicycles and pedestrians, offering a unique, scenic bike-ped connection between Hwy 25 and Downtown Montevallo. Truck traffic should be discouraged on Middle Street in the neighborhood south of Main Street.
• A mixture of housing types and lot sizes can provide more housing opportunities for a broader range of residents. Smaller homes and lots with less outdoor maintenance are in high demand, and the increased density can create a local population large enough to support a vibrant community. The increased population, density and vibrancy tend to mean a broader range of services that can be supported within walking or cycling distance. Housing diversity also supports older residents by providing suitable and affordable housing options as they age – all within walking distance of destinations they are already familiar with.
• Create traditional neighborhoods with homes of various sizes and price points. Avoid cookie cutter developments with homogenous home styles.
• Provide modernized homes at all price brackets so ALL residents have the ability to make living choices.
• Build new artisan studios and housing on Island Street.
• Create ground floor “Maker” studios or professional offices with upper floor housing. The infill development can activate the “no man’s land” between Main Street and Orr Park.
• Consider new affordable housing on the west side of Montevallo Middle School, along with park and community open space along the Flood plains of Shoal Creek. Require street connectivity between new development and existing dead-end streets to encourage more ‘eyes on the street’ and a healthy neighborhood watch program.
• Create new, modernized public housing within 5- minute walk radius of the heart of Downtown Montevallo.
• Renovate/redevelop housing and streetscape at the intersection of Main Street and Island Street to provide a visual gateway to the schools, parks, library and athletic facilities on Island Street. Create a strong architectural statement and
Promote Environmental Stewardship –
Create policies and incentives for environmental stewardship.
• Develop recycling programs
• Clean up Brownfield sites
• Eliminate blight
• Protect creeks, streams and water supply to improve the health and welfare of residents and to spur economic growth and development.
• Continue to partner with the University of Montevallo Environmental Studies Program and seek ways to expand sustainability initiatives.
Montevallo Main Street’s Role:
• Among other things, achieving these goals will require changes to our city Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Sign Ordinance, Parking Minimum Requirement, and other regulations. Montevallo Main Street should work with city officials and planning commission members to draft these appropriate standards.
• In addition, all of Main Street’s programs and activities should align with the community’s goals as detailed in the Strategic Plan. As I understand it, this should form the basis of our Transformation Strategy. Given that, our Transformation Strategy would include:
o Transforming Downtown into an Arts & Entertainment District
o Securing a Hotel / Conference Center
o Increasing Suitable Housing Density in and Around Downtown
o Promoting Walkability
o Expanding Access to Greenspace
o Eliminating Blight
o Protecting our Natural Resources
o Promoting Environmental Sustainability
Strategic Plan Attachments
Date of most recent Comprehensive Plan September 30, 2011
Briefly describe Comp Plan projects in progress or completed
We plan to update our comp plan in 2019, as well as revise our zoning ordinance.
ATTACH NEWS ARTICLES OR OTHER COMMUNICATION ABOUT COMP PLAN PROJECTS DESCRIBED ABOVE (.pdf documents).
Name of Superintendent: Randy Fuller
Elementary School Annual Report Card:
Elementary School Student Population for entire school system:
Middle School Annual Report Card:
Middle School Student Population for entire school system:
High School Annual Report Card:
High School Student Population for entire school system:
Name of Career Tech Administrator:
Career Tech Training Courses: