Entertainment district for future riverfront development approved by Gadsden City Council

Gadsden City Council members approved a second entertainment district for the future development of the city’s western riverfront property.

An entertainment district allows people to take marked alcoholic beverages from one venue to another.

The district includes existing businesses, restaurants, and undeveloped property between South 4th Street and Rainbow Drive from Moragne Avenue south to I-759. The area also includes areas between Highway 411 and the Coosa River from the boardwalk down to River Road.

It connects to the existing entertainment district, which encompasses downtown Broad Street and Mort Glosser Amphitheater. It also stretches across the Coosa River to include the Coosa Landing and The Venue.

“This entertainment district will connect to the other entertainment district. Where you are standing now [city hall] is going to be a hotel. All of that connects with the new development plans we are going to be offering in the next 60 days to the council,” said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford.

Chambless King Architects Firm is working on the riverfront master plan.

“We’re excited about this. This is going to change Gadsden and our entertainment area,” said Ford.

As for interested developers for the riverfront, Ford could not share many details. He said one developer has done other projects in Alabama.

“It is a large developer. We are able to bring in some of the same big chains he has. It is going to generate a lot of revenue for the City of Gadsden. It will generate a lot of tourism dollars and also be a quality-of-life issue for all of the residents in Gadsden,” said Ford. “We already notified the developer it has passed so he can so he can go forward with his plans with our architect.”

In March, Gadsden received $6.5 million in federal funding for the preliminary phase of relocating a mile stretch of Highway 411 to free up space along the city’s western riverfront.

The riverfront was also a focal point in the city’s master plan unveiled in February.