By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The city of Pelham is making improvements to its northern gateway on Highway 31 to create a more visually appealing entrance to the city.

To complete the project, the Commercial Development Authority has acquired the land where a vacant Metro by T-Mobile building currently stands. An abandoned snow cone hut was also recently removed from the area.

Michael Simon, the economic development director for the city of Pelham, gave some background on the practical improvements being made to the site.

“Improvements will be made to the entire property, including removing asphalt and landscaping the entire area,” Simon said. “This will include installing site lighting, planting trees and incorporating other beautification elements.”

Ainsley Allison, Pelham’s communications manager, added some more details on the plan and what the city’s construction plans for the area look like.

“The city just received permits from ALDOT (the Alabama Department of Transportation) construct a new ‘Welcome to Pelham’ gateway sign at the corner of U.S. 31 and Alabama 261 near Walgreens,” Allison said. “Designed with both natural and modern elements, the sign will reflect Pelham’s brand and create a more inviting entrance to the city.”

Allison also emphasized that it is important for Pelham’s visitors to have a great first impression when entering the city.

“Visually appealing gateways with welcome signs and landscaping create a positive first impression and set the tone for what’s to come,” Allison said. “They make people feel welcome and excited about exploring the city. In Pelham, we consider our gateways the introduction to our brand story, and these improvements will reflect the true essence of the city. It’s a way of saying, ‘This is who we are, and we want you to experience it.’”

Allison gave a timeline on the sign project and some of the costs associated with it.

“The City Council just approved a resolution to spend the funds, and we anticipate the sign, landscaping and lighting will be installed by this summer,” Allison said. “The city as approximately $500,000 in the Capital Projects budget for gateway improvements. Each sign, landscaping and lighting is estimated at $60,000. We have identified other gateways where we will be installing these signs, such as Country Road 11, Alabama 119 and U.S. 31 at the southern gateway.”

For more information on both the land improvements by the CDA and the gateway sign construction, visit Pelhamalabama.gov/1183/Gateway-Improvements.