Chickasaw plans for growth

CHICKASAW, Ala. (WALA) - Electronic Bingo has dominated the news in Chickasaw in recent months. But it turns out bingo is only part of the vision for the city's economic growth.

A team of planning professionals called the Auburn Urban Studio have come up with some recommendations that could change the look of the entire city.

"I want you to get in the habit of thinking that way, not the highway, not 43, but Craft Blvd.," said team director Cheryl Morgan.

Morgan brought in a local architect to draw up some designs for a new centralized town square.

Craig Roberts said Lee street from I-65 will lead right to the square in the heart of the city.

"It really never had a central city center the way it developed, and the community buildings are sort of scattered around Chickasaw. And they are interested in bringing it all together so they have a coercive city center," Roberts said.

The water access would also be used to promote recreation and tourism. The plan looks at every aspect of the city including business development and future land use.

Project Manager Sherrie Graham said it's not something that will spring up overnight.

"It's going to be a 10 to 15 year process, but you have to start somewhere," she said.

Of course, it will take a lot of money to pay for the changes.

Mayor Byron Pittman said bingo, which was shut down by the governor's task force last month, could be an important part of the plan.

"Bingo could play a big part of it. We could get things done a lot quicker," the mayor said.

Pittman said with or without bingo, the city's plan will happen, it just might take a little longer.

"We're in here for the long haul, and we'll take our time and do it right," he said.

The strategic plan was paid for with a grant from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.