After days of checking out Selma and taking suggestions from its citizens, Urban Studio revealed their ideas for the Selma Design Initiative Sunday afternoon at ArtsRevive’s Carneal building.

Fifth year thesis level Auburn University students displayed illustrations that gave residents a glimpse of what changes they had to offer Selma. Many of the group’s ideas are focused around making the city as interactive as possible.

Urban Studio architecture student Samantha O’Leary said the community’s closeness, energy and passion about revitalizing inspired their work.

She said Selma has some features that supply the foundation for some good changes.

“You guys have huge sidewalks that could help with putting patio spaces for dining out on the sidewalks,” O’Leary said. “There are things that are already there, and you just need a little push to help more them along. “

Urban Studio presented plans that would add a pedestrian walkway under Edmund Pettus Bridge along with a few other renovation plans.

Urban Studio member Dariel Traynom said the group has a proposal to bring people downtown Selma all the way to the Alabama River to provide an interaction between the river and downtown.

“The way we plan to do this is to utilize the Songs of Selma Park, which is already existing. We’ll add on to it.” Traynom said. “We’ll revamp the third tier down, because it is there, you just can’t get to it. We have proposed opening that back up, not only through stairs, but a ramp that makes it ADA accessible. There is one more tier down and that’s the tier that actually connects to pedestrian bridge.”

He said it provides an interaction into the river that they feel is necessary.

Selma resident Anna Speir was excited about the Songs of Selma proposal.

“I think it’s very exciting to see the plans that have been drawn that can be developed,” Speir said. “I love the access to the river from Songs of Selma Park. Also, she was talking about our gateway into Selma is Highway 80 and to what can be done there.”

Urban Studio member Blaine Lindsey learend the community wants things that many other communities request, such as a café and coffee shop.

“They just want those key things that contribute to a high quality of life,” Lindsey said.

Urban Studio member Kary Lawson said plans include repurposing buildings from Broad Street to Martin Luther King Street on Water Avenue.

“We wanted to pull people up from the river into St. James Hotel by adding the pier and also doubling the size of St. James,” Lawson said. “Another big driving idea for this concept is the farmer’s market. We’ll be moving it closer to town, so you could possibly shut off these streets and really begin to really invigorate this area.”

Selma resident Harold Speir said the overall vision Urban Studio has for Selma is good.

“Without the vision, the people will perish,” Speir said. “They are giving us a vision, and we thank them for that.”

None of the ideas presented Sunday are final. Urban Studio members have scheduled another visit to Selma on Nov. 7 to present a more detailed plan.