A draft of a strategic plan for how Selma and Dallas County can recover from the 2023 tornados is available online for public comment.
The plan is named Selma Now, and it can be reviewed at the website SelmaNow.com. Citizens are encouraged to read the plan and comment online.
“If you care about Selma, you have important ideas to contribute,” the SelmaNow website states. “Your thoughts will ensure that this plan reflects the authentic voice of the community.”
Community members had a chance to give their input on recovery at a meeting at the Performing Arts Center in September. A public input online option was also available until mid March.
The Strategic Action Plan set out in Selma Now addresses the impacts of the Jan. 12, 2023, tornado and sets a direction for land use, economic development, housing and infrastructure.
The plan notes the tornado destroyed more than 1,300 homes. But Selma was already coping with deteriorating streets and antiquated sewer and drainage systems that depressed new construction before the tornado. Dilapidated, vacant and uninhabitable properties left low-income residents at a loss for affordable housing, and after the storm many had to move away or move in with relatives, according to the report.
“Years of economic neglect have contributed to low median household incomes and high unemployment resulting in impoverished conditions in Selma, especially among its predominantly Black/African American residents,” the plan states. “While Selma and its residents have experienced marginalization, divestiture and other civil rights challenges in the past, the city is determined and more focused than ever to improve the conditions of its residents in the present and the future.”
The recovery plan organizes its recommendations into two core chapters, Citywide Strategies and Place-Based Strategies. The first outlines policies, projects and programs designed to address local needs. The second chapter ties these actions to places, tailoring them to Selma’s diverse neighborhoods and landscapes.
Under Citywide Strategies, the plan suggests downtown Selma should be positioned as an “economic driver.” This would be done by setting up a cooperative district, a legal entity that would allow local governments to finance and develop shared large-scale projects. Projects could include streetscaping, water and sewer improvements and broadband expansion.
Other strategies are to create a special assessment district to overcome low property assessments. Leaders could also encourage redevelopment in strategic locations and leverage tourism. All these strategies would require partnerships between the city, the county, the Selma Redevelopment Authority and Arts Revive, among others, according to the plan.
A second strategy calls for rebuilding neighborhoods by helping property owners overcome fiscal, physical and regulatory issues that prevent redevelopment.
Strategy 3 calls for promoting smarter and more sustainable practices that will help Selma recover.
“One of the primary themes emerging from the planning process is the need for updated codes and stronger enforcement mechanisms,” the plan states. “Residents and community organizations have voiced concerns about aging infrastructure, outdated zoning regulations and the need for more effective compliance to support long-term recovery and development. The plan will provide clear, actionable steps to modernize policies and enhance implementation.”
The plan also suggests looking at ways to help owners of historic buildings and to demolish abandoned structures.
Under Place-Based Strategies, the plan calls for creating a more vibrant downtown and riverfront. “Development should reinforce the area’s unique historic character and leverage proximity to the riverfront and surrounding neighborhoods,” the report states.
Another strategy calls for encouraging public and private investment in neighborhoods that are experiencing decline. “Such revitalization may involve reinvestment in existing housing and redevelopment that allows the neighborhood to evolve,” the plan says.
The plan also calls for improving the appearance of public and private property along main corridors “to promote a positive, lasting impression of the city.”
Finally, the plan recommends creating “employment centers,” concentrations of non-retail employment, including institutional and industrial centers.
“While Selma has a strong legacy, it has experienced significant challenges,” the SelmaNow website states. “Now is the time to proactively address emerging opportunities and plan for a more resilient future.”
Thanks to the efforts of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), the Alabama-Tombigbee Regional Commission secured a Long-Term Recovery Planning Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support Selma and Dallas County’s long-term recovery efforts, following the 2023 tornado.
The plan was developed by Planning Next of Columbus, Ohio with help from consultants GMC, Ninigret Partners, IEM and College Town Consulting.
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