By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — A resident of the Calumet Downs subdivision in Trussville asked the Trussville City Council last week for an update on the proposed shopping center development on U.S. Highway 11.
Mayor Gene Melton said last Thursday night that the city was waiting to hear from Blackwater Resources, the company with the option on the stretch of land. He said the company declined a public notice for the rezoning of 1941 Gadsden Highway through 2101 Gadsden Highway.
The potential rezoning was originally on the Nov. 6 agenda but was then removed and not considered last week. The rezoning would be from commercial to planned unit development. The city council in May voted to rezone the same area, roughly 27 acres, to commercial after an hourlong public hearing.
The Trussville City Council
file photo by Gary Lloyd
Melton said there’s no timetable on when the rezoning may be considered.
“They’re in a quandary on their timeline,” Melton said.
Melton said that until the company makes the decision to present their plan to the city council, it’s “pretty much a moot issue at this time.”
Trussville City Clerk Lynn Porter said in January that the company had about 70 percent of the space spoken for with no duplication of retailers already in Trussville. Blackwater Resources has not disclosed who the retailers are. The shopping center space could cover more than 290,000 square feet, generate $45 million in sales and create 550 jobs, according to the company.
The potential shopping center would have three access points. A new traffic light would likely be constructed at the Calumet Downs entrance.
Many Calumet Downs residents voiced their opposition to the possible shopping center in May. Most cited traffic congestion and diminishing property values as reasons not to have a development across from their subdivision.
According to Blackwater Resources’ website, the company has managed and leased properties at the Vestavia City Center, Patton Creek in Hoover, the River Trace Shopping Center in Gadsden, the Northside Mall in Dothan and the Market Shoppes in Decatur.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
