DECATUR, Ala. — UPDATE 4/17: Decatur City Council approved, by a 4-to-1 vote, a lease agreement with developer Patrick Lawler, which will be the basis for a new mixed-use "entertainment district" type development in the Ingalls Harbor area.
A groundbreaking date has not been set.
Our original reporting continues below:
It's a great time to be a resident of Decatur, according to Mayor Tab Bowling. "We are enjoying some wonderful times right now in the North Alabama region," he said. "This is a great time to be an elected official with all the growth we're experiencing all summer."
A proposed project could bring more tourism to the already thriving area and help residents and tourist spend more time by the water. "This is going to be a destination attraction for the entire region and beyond," Bowling shared. "People are looking for things to do on the weekends or weeknights and something about the water that just makes something extra special or brings the cool factor in, really."
That cool factor, a riverfront development near Ingalls Harbor. Guntersville developer Patrick Lawler, a native of Guntersville is behind the project and thinks Decatur would be the perfect place for this type of entertainment. "I was kind of intrigued by Decatur," Lawler said. "I think there is tremendous opportunity in Decatur. The type of retail and restaurants that we'll bring there, it's really high energy and a lot of live music."
The proposed project would have many of the same attractions featured at City Harbor like restaurants and shopping but is said to be much bigger and feature new housing developments. "40 units over there are condos and we'll be offering pre-sales on those before too long," Lawler said.
There was one concern with the building of the development is the proximity of the wastewater facility that will neighbor the property. "The only concern is the location next to our wastewater facility," Bowling said. "We have limited space that's available on our riverfront. The Tennessee river is our number one asset. Patrick and I went over and met with Decatur utilities officials and there talked to them about the investment that they're making in the facility now, take care of any concerns and he’s comfortable with that."
The current plan is to present at the April 10 work session so the City Council can vote on it at the April 17 meeting.
