BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
With four council members voting for, and two abstaining, Tuesday night the Prattville City Council took a step forward toward a proposed outdoor venue and entertainment center which would be located between the former Hancock Whitney Bank and the City Annex Building on Main Street.
The recently approved city budget sets aside $3.4 million for renovation of the Hancock Whitney Bank area. The property was purchased by the city last year.
The resolution adopted Tuesday night authorizes Mayor Bill Gillespie to enter into an agreement with McKee & Associates Architects, Inc, for architectural construction management services for the Exterior Venue Project located around the area of 124 West Main Street at a cost not to exceed $211,200.
During discussion, Councilman Albert Striplin said he planned to abstain from the vote though he is not in favor or against the project.
“I have had merchants that expressed concerns about the specific location, and they think there may be other options available. They have also expressed concerns about the loss of parking,” Striplin said.
According to Mayor Gillespie there will not be any loss of parking with the project.
“In fact, with this project and also some potential additional projects on Court Street it will add additional parking,” Gillespie said. “I think this project will actually compliment what will be going on at Spillway Park. The downtown merchants that staff and I have talked with and HPRA members have actually been supportive of this. The rumor about losing parking is inaccurate.”
Striplin and Marcus Jackson abstained, abstained. Voting in favor were Council President Lora Lee Boone, Councilman Tommy Merrick, Councilman John Chambers and Councilman Robert Strichik. Councilman Blair Gornto was not present for the meeting.
Prattville resident Jon Lee Finnegan voiced concerns prior to the vote, saying she is not opposed to the resolution or the project, but questioned the cost of the agreement with McKee & Associates. She said that to her knowledge, the plan has not yet been approved by the Historic Preservation Committee.
Mayor Gillespie said that the resolution that passed will help create a plan that can be presented to the builders and the architects, to allow the city to move forward.
What is the Project?
An article by Design Alabama earlier this year praised Prattville for the proposed venue saying “The location is an underutilized space between the former Hancock Whitney bank, recently acquired by the city, and the City Hall Annex.
As part of continuing efforts to revitalize downtown Prattville, the venue will contain a large multiuse pavilion, a covered stage for live performances, a canopy-covered seating area, a movie screen for shows and sporting events, multiuse space for recreational games, lighting, and a sound system.”
Renderings for the project were provided by Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood.
Included in the plans is a pedestrian canopy-covered corridor along the bank building side and a one-way vehicle corridor next to the City Hall Annex. There will also be on-street parking and space for food trucks. The bank’s drive-through will be removed, as well as the nearby vacant former grocery store.
A new entryway will lead into the area, and green space will be developed around the stage. The site will include a new walking path with trees and seating as well.
There was a proposal to also create a rooftop venue in the former bank building, which is still being explored. However, officials say they have yet to verify the stability of the roof to accommodate a roof top experience. That could come later in a separate phase of the project.
City officials say this project would continue the revitalization of downtown Prattville while providing a quality of life. It would be a place of family entertainment and recreation, which would encourage further urbanized living, business sustainability, easier walkability and growth opportunities in the historic downtown.
In other Council business:
In his report to the council, Mayor Gillespie gave updates on several projects, as well as presenting a new video that was created to promote Prattville. It will be available to the public perhaps next week. It earned a round of applause from the audience.
Among Consent Agenda items, councilors authorize the Mayor to have overgrown grass and weeds at 116 Abney Drive, 423 Summerhill Road and 122 Kingswood Drive abated.
The council granted a retail beer on and off premises and a retail table wine on and off premises license for Jiya 2 Inc DBA Eagle Cigars and Tobacco.
The Council rescinded a resolution for the purchase of five 2023 For Explorers from Stivers Ford Lincoln for the Prattville Police Department, as the vehicles are not available.
Instead, the Council has approved the purchase of 10 Ford F150s through state contract from Stivers Ford Lincoln for the police department at a cost not to exceed $419,033.
Many first responders and other agencies have reported difficulties in securing new vehicles in our area, due to an overall shortage in production, and/or delays.
The new F-150s will be outfitted for the police department.
The Council also awarded a bid to Smitherman Brothers Construction for sidewalk improvements along Doster Road, which is an ALDOT project as well. The budget for the project is not to exceed $379,460, with a net cost to the city not to exceed $75,892.
