A Village is Born

1. A Village is Born The Village of Spring HillMobile, Alabama February 17, 2010

2. A Village is Born An amazing transformation is ongoing in the Spring Hill community. In spite of the economic gloom and doom over the country, the Village of Spring Hill is a success story. There has been a real community commitment to the implementation of a master plan.

3. Spring Hill was settled in the 1800’s as a summer retreat for Mobile residents to escape the heat and gain refuge from the yellow fever epidemic taking hold in the city. It is the highest point in the city and has an abundance of natural springs flowing from the area, thus the name “Spring Hill”. The historic residential community within our boundaries includes many amenities: • Beautiful old homes, historic grave yards and landmarks • Spring Hill College (one of the Southeast’s oldest colleges) • The University of South Alabama with over 15,000 students • 8 Churches representing many denominations • 6 Public and private schools • 3 public parks • The largest publicly owned tennis facility in the United States • Botanical gardens • A Fine Arts museum • A children’s theatre • A city-wide baseball park • Senior citizens’ residences • A public golf course

7. The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. organization began with an initiative by the merchants to engage the residents in an effort to improve the commercial areas in Spring Hill. The merchants held several meetings inviting the community to address the deteriorated state of the commercial area. The general feeling was that the residential areas were well maintained, but the commercial area was considered an eyesore with a spider web of utility lines and excessive asphalt. Pedestrian safety was a huge concern. Some buildings in the commercial area were vacant and falling apart, and the small businesses that existed were interested in improving the retail environment.

9. The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. was formed as a grassroots nonprofit corporation in February 2006. The organization held its first community meeting in the spring of 2006 when over 600 residents and businessmen attended. Those present were asked to write down what they would like to see happen in Spring Hill. These suggestions were compiled and goals were set according to the expressed needs and wishes of the community.

10. MISSION “To make The Village of Spring Hill a neighborhood center by improving the pedestrian, aesthetic and commercial amenities of the area.” OBJECTIVES To support and promote the development and redevelopmentof the Spring Hill community of Mobile, Alabama To seek multiple avenues and resources tosupport the development/redevelopment To encourage the development of small business,specialty shops and restaurants to this area To enhance the pedestrian friendly and neighborhood oriented atmosphere with better sidewalks, trees and green spaces To preserve historic sites in the area

11. ADECA Planning & Implementation Grant Community-based designled by Dover, Kohl & Partners

12. The first step was to create a comprehensive plan to address the needs of the community. State Senator Hap Myers, who is now retired and living in Spring Hill, heard about the organized effort of TVSH and helped to secure a comprehensive community planning grant through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs that allowed TVSH to hire nationally renowned urban planners Dover Kohl & Partners. Dover Kohl & Partners conducted a weeklong intensive community planning workshop involving all stakeholders: • 500 Community members • Commercial property owners • Business owners • Developers • City Officials • The Mayor of Mobile

13. The result was the Blue Print for Spring Hillthat was approved in 2008 by the City of Mobile Planning Commission and the City Council, making the Blue Print a part of the city’s overall Comprehensive Plan. The plan incorporates the needs of the community to create: • Commercial Sustainability • Improved aesthetics • Pedestrian safety • Increased walkability to the commercial, athletic and art amenities the area has to offer.

14. TheBlue Print for Spring Hillfocuses heavily on three commercial intersections in the community. This next slide shows the main intersection before and after. The top photo depicts what the intersection of Old Shell Rd. and McGregor Ave. looked like at the outset of the plan, and the bottom shot shows the potential for this intersection as it might develop over time using the guidelines of the master plan.

15. Old Shell Rd. & McGregor Ave. 1

16. The second intersection is Old Shell Rd. and Bit & Spur Rd. The top shows a current photo of the area as compared to the bottom photo showing a potential build out of the intersection. A local developer has proposed a new development at this location that will include six detached single-family homes in an upscale French-country style. It will incorporate an alternate form of residential development outlined in the Village of Spring Hill coding and will adopt many of the features put forth in the Blueprint for Spring Hill. After several meetings which included Village of Spring Hill representatives, the Developer and the city’s Urban Development Department, the application for the project was approved. This development can act as a catalyst to start a positive transformation of this area.

17. Old Shell Rd. & Bit and Spur 2

18. The third focus area for the Master Plan includes McGregor Avenue and Museum Drive (top photo shows current view with bottom photo showing potential build out). This is the entrance into the city park that includes the art museum, the tennis center, botanical gardens, a children’s theatre, and a ball park. A roundabout is planned for the intersection at McGregor and Museum Drive, creating a very impressive entrance to the art, nature and athletic amenities within our community. The roundabout has been engineered, and funding is currently being sought for the project.

19. Museum Drive near McGregor Ave. 3

20. Form-Based Code (zoning) Subdivision Regulations • KEY FEATURES • “Main Street”-style building support • Balance automobile and pedestrian use • Reduced required parking ratios • Rear-located parking and utilities • Building form and access

21. In order for the master plan to be realized, the City’s zoning had to be amended. Most of what was advocated in the plan was against the current City zoning. The new zoning promotes: • A “Main Street” development (buildings up to the curb) • Appropriate balance between cars and pedestrians • Reduced parking ratios • Parking located in the rear or on the side of buildings Dover Kohl & Partners worked with the City to draft an overlay zoning regulation. After much discussion and public debate before the Planning Commission and City Council, the ordinance passed unanimously in August of 2008.

22. The groundwork had been laid for the implementation process to begin in the summer of 2009 . Five-foot sidewalks -- 6,480 linear feet down the south side of Old Shell Road -- were completed, connecting the University of South Alabama and Spring Hill College. They provide neighborhoods in the area easy and safe access to the commercial area as well as to churches and schools. As a testament to the need for sidewalks, they are continuously packed with runners, walkers, bikers, children, older people and physically challenged residents in their wheelchairs.

23. ALDOT TransportationEnhancement Grant

24. The existing damaged pear trees are gradually being replaced with a new Drake Elm that is more suited for urban streetscapes. The Village lighting was chosen not only to create a village atmosphere with their crook-neck design, but for pedestrian safety and reduction of light pollution into the atmosphere. The benches are the same design of a bench that has been used in Mobile since 1866. A little research tracked down the one existing pattern which was shipped to Robinson Foundry in Alexander City for production. The benches have been placed on the new 12’ wide sidewalks in the commercial area.

26. The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. has engaged commercial property owners to spend tens of thousands of dollars implementing the village streetscapes. Those participating to date are CVS/Pharmacy, Holiday Inc., AT&T, & Regions Bank. Other businesses and property owners have improved their properties as well. Through TVSH efforts working with the City Transportation Department, the main intersection of Old Shell Road and McGregor Avenue was redesigned to emphasize pedestrian safety. The size of the pedestrian islands were increased and the crosswalks made larger and more visible with shorter crossings distances. New traffic signals with mast arms were installed, eliminating the unsightly wires across the intersection, and attractive pavers now fill the islands for a more unified look. Once simply another nondescript intersection, the Village now boasts a high quality community center serving automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic alike.

29. The first development realized after the plan was approved was a CVS/Pharmacy at the intersection of Old Shell and McGregor Avenue. After 8 months of negotiating with CVS/Pharmacy, TVSH was able to convince them to build a more traditional neighborhood design instead of their typical suburban prototype. This CVS/Pharmacy has become a standard measurement for all other new development in Spring Hill. The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. created a pedestrian plaza providing a much needed town center at the main intersection. The VSH signature pavers were used to tie in the new intersection with the plaza and the CVS development. The community raised over $15,000 for the Village Clock which is dedicated to the memory of Van Rusling a past president of the Spring Hill Merchants Association and the founder of the beloved neighborhood coffee house Carpe Diem. The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. has been appointed by the City of Mobile to act as a liaison between developers and the City to assist them in gaining approval of their projects under the VSH zoning. So far the organization has worked with several local and out of town developers, taking their intended developments and showing them how the principals for the Village of Spring Hill coding can be applied.

33. What next? • Implementation of a roundabout at the intersection of Museum Drive and McGregor Ave., creating a beautiful entrance into the park and all the amenities of this area. • Development of sidewalks on the north side of Old Shell Rd. connecting all the neighborhoods of Old Shell Road with Lavretta Park and Langan Park Intersection redesign atMcGregor & Museum Drive Sidewalks on the northside of Old Shell Road

34. • Implementation of streetscapes by continuing to work with property owners and new development • Development of a Pocket Park • Beautification and landscaping • Continue to act as a liaison for coding Streetscape improvementincentives (matching) Beautification andlandscaping

35. We are a work in progress! Thank YouFor Your Support The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. Linda St. John, President linda@logicalus.com 251-209-6111

36. Thank You! Over 600 community members have contributed in excess of $160,000 to TVSH organization. It has the support of the City of Mobile, the Mayor, Council Members Gina Gregory and Reggie Copeland, Senator Jo Bonner, Representative Jamie Ison, the Chamber of Commerce, and distinguished businessmen and women throughout Mobile. Through the hard work and persistence of a small community, the Village of Spring Hill is definitely a success story!

37. Additional Slides Before & After Shots

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