Main Street Alabama

In Monroeville, The Old Jail, initially built in the 1860s, has been repurposed by JWJ Investment Properties into a retail space and living units. The Old Jail Inn is showcasing a wonderful transformation achieved through intentional design, a big win for the community’s historic district and visitors. This project led to an Excellence in Building Design for the Main Street program, congrats! https://ow.ly/jTiC50Ue8iY

Jasper’s Downtown Foods Reimagined initiative led to a local firm acquiring the vacant Downtown Foods Grocery Store building and renovating it to become the Alabama Back Institute, becoming a symbol of the community’s excellence and resilience in the process. It also won the Main Street program an Excellence in Building Design Award! https://ow.ly/CkPi50Ue5s3

Titled “Steadfast Stride Toward Justice,” the first life-sized statue of civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis was recently unveiled in downtown Montgomery at the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Plaza. https://ow.ly/WwWZ50Ub07A

The Reed House in Fort Payne was certainly worthy of an Excellence in Building Design Award this year! With two loft apartments developed above a retail shop and available for short-term leasing, the space is elegant and lends to the charm of the community’s historic district. https://ow.ly/A6Bt50Ue4Iz

Read more about the exciting accomplishments and upcoming initiatives in Foley presented at the recent Foley Main Street annual meeting! https://ow.ly/Ltw950UaZEi

Excellence in Building Design Award shout out! Old Black Bear Brewing Company expanded its brewing operation and opened its second location in Athens, becoming the city's first brewer. The company purchased an abandoned, dilapidated warehouse off the downtown square and hired a local architectural firm, solidifying its dreams for the space and adding 52 new jobs to the local workforce. https://ow.ly/6jVU50Ue1F3

With several developments lined up (including a recently completed parking deck in downtown), Florence is making way for this expected growth over the next few years. “Downtown is growing,” Florence City Council President Kaytrina Simmons said. “The city of Florence is growing and I am really excited for the growth and potential growth that we are about to enhance an experience.” https://ow.ly/mVlx50UaZSE

At the recent RurAL Summit Seminar at Central Alabama Community College, Main Street Alabama President Mary Helmer Wirth contributed to the discussion about how business development organizations across the state are working together to create opportunities for rural areas “Downtown is important because it is the heart and soul of a community,” she said. “When you’re trying to recruit industry and manufacturers to your cities, they are looking at your schools and healthcare systems, but they are also looking at your downtown.” https://lnkd.in/dYUgBj2m

This amazing space in Alexander City definitely has us Downtown Dreaming! The building was once a storage space for a gym but is now a top-notch luxury hotel and event space right in the heart of downtown. We thought this development deserved Main Street Alexander City an Excellence in Building Design Award! https://ow.ly/QoGj50UcVRP

Big changes are coming to Foley’s entertainment district. To make the most of the event, Third Thursdays and the official opening of the Cat Alley walkway and public seating area will coincide with it. A Foley Main Street design committee project, the alley was a collaborative effort between the organization and the City of Foley, Main Street Alabama, Foley Art Center, Baldwin County Board of Realtors, Foley Revitalization and Beautification Advisory Board, as well as the cooperation of the downtown business BrightSpeed. Learn more at the link! https://lnkd.in/e4t3HVfi