City center still in plans

Published Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The economy is down across the nation, but we are glad Alabaster’s leaders are keeping a new city center in their plans.

City leaders and planners considered the project a few years ago before the economy tanked, but the plans were understandably put on hold until it becomes easier to borrow the money necessary to build the center.

Once it’s completed, the center will include a new City Hall, police station and other municipal buildings, as well as room for retail development.

Because city departments are crammed into several buildings spread out across the entire city, a consolidated city center will make it much easier for Alabaster citizens to access city officials.

The extra space would also allow the city to operate more smoothly, as well as provide room for extra growth. If you’ve ever been inside the current City Hall or police station off U.S. 31, you definitely know how cramped their accommodations are.

The city hasn’t finalized a location for the project, but they said it could be built on a piece of city-owned property off Alabama 119.

That location would be near the city’s population center, and would provide easy access for people traveling from all corners of Alabaster.

And instead of trying to determine which building to visit to take care of city business, residents will be able to travel to one location and have access to many different Alabaster offices.

Economic times have been hard on everyone, but we are glad Alabaster officials have not lost sight of this important project.

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