FAIRHOPE --A grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organization is moving work forward to build the alleyway beside the parking garage in downtown Fairhope, city officials said.
“We determined that part of the downtown traffic congestion was the fact that people were driving around looking for parking, and we discovered there were two issues: available public parking downtown including the parking garage is not easy to find. Those who do know where the parking garage find it to be an unwelcoming place to park,” said Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop, director of economic and community development for the city of Fairhope.
The findings were the result of the Downtown Traffic, Pedestrian Safety and Wayfinding Signage and Parking Study, which was conducted in 2017. Those findings are also guiding pedestrian safety improvements throughout the city.
“As part of the project we were awarded $600,000 to beautify the alleyway in an effort to draw people to the garage and to make the alleyway pedestrian alongside the garage pedestrian friendly. The alley will serve as an artery to guide people to various points in the city through existing alleys that lead to Fairhope Avenue, Church and Section streets,” said Botop.
In early 2019, the city of Fairhope began engaging city stakeholders in a process to plan a preliminary design for the garage and alleyway. Christian Preus of Christian Preus Landscape Architecture led the process for stakeholders to discuss the alleyway, its purpose and how it can be more attractive and accessible to city residents and visitors.
“Through that process, the preliminary design has been completed,” Botop said. “After this summer we’ll break ground to repave the alleyway as a first step in the project.”
Also expected for the alleyway is increased transportation opportunities.
“The grant will also pay for a small BRATS hub that will be on the Church Street side of the parking garage to help shuttle people to destinations both in and beyond Fairhope,” said Botop. “The next phase will be to purchase electric shuttles to shuttle people around downtown which will be paid for by an additional grant opportunity.”
The alleyway revitalization is projected to be completed by Summer 2020.
