Trussville Springs

Trussville Springs is a New Urbanist community being constructed on 160 acres adjacent to the Cahaba River just off Highway 11, to the north of downtown Trussville and behind city hall. It is being developed by Hearthstone Properties LLC and designed by Marshall Anderson of Architecture Works with assistance from the renowned Duany Plater-Zyberk firm. Its inspiration comes from the depression era Cahaba Homestead Village. The completed project will contain 568 homes to be built over the course of five phases.

History

Hearthstone partners Barry Stalnaker and Bill Lewis purchased the property, which included an abandoned sandstone quarry and the former sites of Continental Electric and Birmingham Tank in 2002.

Originally called Mainstreet Trussville, the project's design charrette took place during the week of June 21-24, 2005, at the Continental Electric Building at 6655 Gadsden Highway. During the week, citizens of Trussville were encouraged to participate in the process of creating the initial plans for the development. Andrés Duany was present for the entire duration of the charrette, and by the end of the week an initial plan which envisioned the proposed development as an extension of Trussville's existing downtown was created.

The Cahaba River Society was invited to participate in planning and design in order to insure that the Cahaba River, previously widened, was restored and protected as much as possible in the development of the site. Among their recommendations were to remove existing berms and to introduce new rock formations to restore riverine habitats destroyed in earlier flood-mitigation works. An expansive green space is to be left undeveloped along the river's natural flood plain, with trails which will connect to Trussville's existing network of walking paths. Large areas choked by invasive privet were also cleared.

After the charrette was complete, the project was formally announced as Trussville Springs on Tuesday, June 27, 2005, marketed as akin to the Mt Laurel development in Shelby County. The project was then presented as a 586-home community to the Trussville Planning and Zoning Board on November 10, 2005. The mixed-use community is to feature retail and restaurant space in addition to townhouses, elevated cottages near the river, five-story condominium buildings and single-family homes.

On June 20, 2006, the Planning and Zoning Board approved the first phase of the project. The phase consists of 42 town houses, 50 condominium units, 18 cottage homes and 19 river front homes. By August, site clearance began with the demolition of about 100,000 square feet of warehouse space and the former Continental Electric plant. Only a "handful" of homes were completed before progress was halted by the 2008 recession.

The Cahaba River Society held a "Fry-Down" fundraiser at the project site in September 2010.

References

• Debro, Anita (June 21, 2006) "Developer gets go-ahead on first phase of community plan." Birmingham News.
• Debro, Anita (November 16, 2005) "Trussville officials see plans for Cahaba mixed-use area." Birmingham News.
• Debro, Anita (June 28, 2005) "Seaside designers plan Trussville community." Birmingham News.
• Wilkinson, Kaija (June 24, 2005) "Developers plan a quaint community along Cahaba River" Birmingham Business Journal [1]
• Spencer, Thomas (September 13, 2010) "Cahaba River Society praises Trussville subdivision on river's banks." Birmingham News

External Links

Locate with
Google Maps

• Trussville Springs official website
• Harris Doyle builder