Russellville undergoes historic register review
After several months of waiting, the City of Russellville has received word that the Alabama National Register Review Board will be taking the city’s request to be added to the National Historic Register under consideration.
Sept. 27 the review board will hold a public meeting in Montgomery, and one of the items they will be discussing is the Russellville Commercial Historic District.
The other site being considered is the Easterwood House in Cherokee.
The review is the result of the request drafted and sent by Phil Thomason of Thomason and Associates. Thomason worked with Russellville Mayor David Grissom for months on this proposal, which covers a large section of Jackson Street and parts of Lawrence and Franklin streets.
“We’ve been working on it for a while now. I think it will be a great thing for downtown,” Grissom said.
As far as economic impacts, Thomason said rehabilitating properties instead of building new structures creates more jobs because it is more labor intensive, generates more household income and keeps more money in the community.
Rehabilitating downtown areas also attracts tourists, encourages them to spend money locally and makes them want to make return trips, Thomason added.
