BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
I took a walk through the High Point Town Center in Prattville this past Saturday. With discussions about a new Charter School looking to make some of the buildings there a home, my interest was piqued.
I remembered back years ago when discussions first were made public about the shopping center. It came about close to the time of Target’s development and the many stores that occupy that area today. Back then there was a fairly large public outcry that two massive developments was too much for the city to take on at one time. In the end, then Mayor Jim Byard and his council at that time moved forward.
Target as an anchor and the other stores across the way have been a success story. High Point? Not so much.
It sounded good in theory. I listened to the positive and the negative at that time as a reporter. By the time the High Point Town Center actually opened there was a lot of excitement about the possibilities. More than 900,000 square feet of space, with roads, landscaping and a multitude of sizes for stores to lease. There were announcements of the businesses that had signed on. Hopes were high. That was in 2008.
Then a big downturn, businesses shuttering their doors, complaints of excessive rental prices, bankruptcy and a new owner.
A few of the anchor businesses have remained. But others could not make it. There are so many buildings in the massive development that appear to have never had a tenant in all of the 13 years since the construction was complete.
Particularly on the back side of the property, awnings are rotting, flower beds are abandoned. Feral cats can be found.
I had noticed some food and water containers outside one of the vacant storefronts. As I rounded a corner, I scared up a few cats that scurried away, taking refuge in some overgrown bushes.
It is a relative ghost town once you make it past the stores closer to the main entrance. Signs mark businesses that were once located there. Leaves have managed to find their way into other empty buildings that may have never seen a tenant. Dirt covers the windows.
Kinnucans….I remember the exciting press releases about them coming. That very large building is closed up now.
What was hoped to be a beautiful and booming business location is anything but once you make your way past the businesses that have remained.
There is an almost eerie silence. Roadways with no traffic, parking spaces with no cars, sidewalks with no people. I thought to myself “What a great location for scenes from the ‘Walking Dead’ or some other apocalyptic show.”
Highpoint is not devoid of life.
There are some very popular restaurants there, like Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, Chicken Salad Chick, MidTown Pizza Kitchen and Chappy’s Deli. There are others, like ADT, JC Penney, Belk, Publix, a fitness facility, and a salon to name a few.
I was pleased to see a brand new business called Krab Kingz that opened just over a week ago. I even made a lunch purchase to show support. They are right across from Chicken Salad Chick. So, hope springs eternal.
But overall, it is hard to argue that too much of the property has started down the path to ruin.
Again, opinions on why the outcome has not been the bright, exciting concept vary widely. It doesn’t matter really. If you don’t agree, take a walk through the area yourself. It is what it is.
I have heard some reasons why locating a Charter School there would benefit the city. True, foot traffic would increase. And seeing what could be a beautiful facility have more life is definitely favorable.
But unless that foot traffic of roaming students and parents picking up or dropping off somehow becomes more shoppers at stores, creating tax revenue, I don’t see the financial benefit.
I am certainly not opposed to a Charter School. I have covered some great ones over the years. And I won’t even talk about the fact that a school which applied to be an Autauga County School would actually be in Elmore County. I covered that in an earlier story. The request for the City of Prattville to help fund the estimated $23 million to acquire and renovate the buildings? Wow. The social pages are full of interesting theories both pro and con.
Leasing or buying the available space at High Point would certainly be less expensive to start up a school, rather than buying land and building from the ground up. I definitely understand that. But I would be interested to know exactly what businesses. Are some desired by the school occupied already? What would become of those businesses?
I still have no official word if anyone has seriously looked at the old East Memorial Christian Academy, that absolutely is located in Autauga County. It is already a school design.
But for this writing, I am just thinking about the possibility of a school locating in a few of the buildings at High Point. Maybe there could be expansion one day, using even more of the unused buildings. But would it bring tax revenue? Something that would help pay back debt incurred by making the development a reality? I will leave that to the experts.
I would love to see a new beginning for High Point. Truly. And my mind remains open to all possibilities.
High Point seeing success would benefit not only Prattville, but Elmore County.
I just hope that whatever decisions are made, they are well thought out and lessons learned from past decisions are not lost.
Meanwhile, I may spend more time walking with favorable weather. Portions of High Point, for now, would be a great place to do it if you don’t want to worry about traffic, or busy sidewalks.
Sarah Stephens can be reached at editorsarah@yahoo.com.
See more photos below.
