NEW: Selma launching downtown revitalization project

Selma, Alabama, the “Queen City of the Black Belt,” just announced an initiative that will transform the downtown area bit by bit. Here’s what you need to know.

Downtown revitalization project in Selma—the details

On Thursday, October 5, Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr. made a big announcement. A revitalization project is launching, and Phase One is underway.

According to WAKA, a grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation is making the project possible. Here are some of the changes we can expect to see:

• Sidewalk improvements
• Drainage improvements
• Street resurfacing
• Lighting improvements

But they’re just getting started.

“We can’t fix all of this in one day. It won’t happen in one year. But what we’re doing today is letting you know that this engine has started. This train is leaving the track.”

Mayor James Perkins, Jr., as quoted by WAKA

This announcement comes on the heels of the tornadoes that swept through Selma in January 2023.

Other recent developments in Selma

Selma has been home to several important developments in recent years, such as:

• In 2021, Selma’s monumental St. James Hotel reopened for business.
• In 2022, it was announced that a former U.S. Air Force base in Selma, Alabama would be home to the country’s first Remote Air Traffic Control Center (RTC).
• In 2022, the Selma Interpretive Education Center announced a huge expansion.
• In 2023, President Biden visited Selma for the bridge crossing remembrance.

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