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September 23, 2008

Cullman planning for the future

By Trent Moore

Staff Writer

The City of Cullman has joined with the Auburn University Urban Design Studio to host a downtown design charette, as part of the ongoing comprehensive planning for the downtown area.

The charette, which is essentially a forum for the Auburn University Urban Design Studio to give their thoughts on potential directions for downtown Cullman in the future, is set to kickoff at the Cullman Electric Cooperative training room, on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m.

City Planner Jim Fisher said property owners, business owners and the general public are encouraged to attend.

“We would like to have as many of the downtown shop owners as possible to come by and visit with the students and share their ideas,” he said.

Downtown Revitalization Consultant Annette Philpo’t said senior-level Auburn students associated with the project have already come to Cullman to gather information about the area.

“Students have come in advance of the project to take photos and gather info about what businesses are located downtown and the composition of the district,” Philpo’t said. “They look at information about historical aspects of the town and how it evolved within the boundaries of the focus area and they learn about the type of architecture already here.”

Once the students sort through the data, and also receive input from local property owners, Philpo’t said they will then showcase their recommendations to improve the downtown area.

“After they get input from property owners they take all the information that has been provided, they will produce architectural illustrations of the core district and how it can be improved,” she said. “It will touch on things like the renovation of buildings, or perhaps a vacant lot that may be appropriate to put a new building in, and possible landscaping in the interim period.”

Fisher said the findings of the design charette will tie in to the comprehensive plan the city planner’s office is working to develop.

“It’s part of the downtown comprehensive plan,” he said. “It will be added to the plan, more specifically the downtown aspect. The plan is still a work in progress.”

The charette project will cost the city approximately $13,000, which Fisher said is a small price to pay for the information and feedback they will receive.

“It’s very modest, for things such as printing and administrative fees, and obviously producing maps,” he said. “We’re probably getting $70,000 worth of work, had we gone to a firm. These are mostly fifth-year graduate students with good credentials.”

Once the charette is finished, Fisher said the city will receive a large, fold-up poster of downtown Cullman, showcasing all the proposed changes.

Following the Thursday kickoff, the charette will continue with sessions on Sept. 26 and 27 in downtown, at the former West Cullman Furniture Mart building on Alabama Highway 278.



* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.

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