My Task: This was a longer enterprise story of mine that highlighted a town that had recently underwent a revitalization. I was able to highlight the new aspects of the town and understand its costs and how it impacted the city. I dove into government databases along with talking to local leaders about an increased ad valorem tax that would increase to the maximum rate in the state. Additionally, the town had an influx of population in recent years causing traffic congestion. I looked into the problem and illustrated the town's course of action.
A makeover consisting of new eateries, bars and music shifted Trussville’s social personality to embody the town’s slogan, ‘The gateway to happy living.’
Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat, a 31-year resident, had been hearing whispers of a downtown reconstruction since before he took office. During his time as a council member, the Trussville Redevelopment Authority formed, exploring ways to reestablish and grow the downtown area.
In 2016, Choat was elected mayor.
“What can we do to make Trussville a place where our people stay here instead of going into Birmingham or 280?” Choat said about the spark that ignited the vision.
Trussville faced a structural challenge regarding Alabama Highway 11 slicing through the heart of downtown. With the help of a private investor and a facade grant for building renovations, the city invested nearly $20 million into revitalization.
“People say redevelop, but really it was kind of just develop a whole new section in Trussville,” Choat said.
Breaking ground in 2019, the Gateway District was born. Named after the town’s slogan, the district features breweries, restaurants, shops and a stage.
“There has been a lot of new businesses that have come into the area,” Entertainment District operations manager Randall Norman said. “We get a ton more traffic coming from Birmingham for some of the concerts that we have or just to try some of the new restaurants and bars. It really revitalized the area.”
The area, which once included metal buildings lacking personality, has transformed into a hotbed for community engagement.
“It’s very family friendly,” said Cordeau Wine Bar owner Elizabeth Martin. “Any given random Tuesday or Wednesday evening, when the weather’s nice, you will see lots of people out here. It’s really pulled everybody to a central location for the community to hang out and get to know each other.”
And the growth isn’t just downtown.
“We have steadily grown over the last six years,” said Larry Butler, co-owner of Trussville Cigar Co. “The change has been slow for us because we’re not in the ‘entertainment district.’”
While change was slower since it is around the corner from the district, the shop is benefiting from a rapidly growing population. In 2000, Trussville’s resident count totaled 12,000 and had one elementary school. Today, the town has more than doubled in residents and tripled in schools.
“We opened two new elementary schools in 2016, and from then on, we have just seen the growth coming in numbers,” Choat said.
As Trussville has grown, the city is racing to catch up. Paine Elementary School enrolls 1,350 children and is the largest K-5 in the state.
“We need a fourth elementary pretty bad,” Choat said.
Currently, the total ad valorem tax a Trussville resident pays toward the state, county, schools and city is 62.1 mills, meaning $62 out of $1,000 is owed in taxes. To help build the fourth elementary school, a vote to increase the city’s ad valorem tax by 12.9 mills will take place in August.
“(If) this referendum passes, the overall millage rate would go up to 75 mills for taxable property throughout Trussville,” Trussville City Clerk Dan Weinrib said. “That is the absolute ceiling under state law that property tax rates can go up to.”
For comparison, this millage rate would be on par with the property tax rate levied in Homewood.
Last year, the average sale price on a home in Trussville was over $440,000.
“The housing market has really shown a dramatic increase in the average cost of a home,” Choat said. “A lot of that is attributed to the schools and/or things that we’ve been able to provide for them.”
Additionally, the city has a 10% sales tax and but offers a deduction toward businesses.
“If you brought a new business in and you want to talk about a tax abatement, we would be talking about three cents on the dollar,” Choat said. “We keep that one penny going to the school.”
While revenues have grown and the demand for services has increased, the town boasts a $50 million budget, $10 million more than pre-pandemic numbers.
“It’s necessary that we keep providing those kinds of opportunities to attract restaurants and shopping centers to keep those revenues,” Choat said. “Sales tax, quite honestly, generates two-thirds of our revenues for the city.”
As the city enjoys its recent popularity, the influx of visitors has left residents with newfound obstacles.
“There is more traffic, and there is not enough parking,” manager of Guitar Pro’s Tara Bentley said.
The town is planning an estimated $7 million project to alleviate congestion in its largest downtown intersection. It allows for two separate routes to access Highway 11 from North Chalkville Road.
“(It) will probably save us 9,000 to 10,000 cars a day from going through that intersection,” Choat said.
Additionally, along North Chalkville Road, Jefferson County is widening the two-lane thoroughfare as well as Alabama Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 11 toward Deerfoot Parkway.
While Trussville has increased its capacity and is budgeting its expansion, Choat is satisfied with how the city has grown.
“We just feel very fortunate to be where we are,” Choat said. “The economy’s tough right now, as far as the cost of things, but we’ve been able to survive.”
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