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By Sarah Aghedo

Thus far, it’s been clarified that the Selma Historic Development Commission guides how structures are preserved and restored in Selma. The preservation that results is a boon to the economy in a variety of ways, from increasing the housing stock to encouraging business development to developing tourism.  The tourism possibilities just within a few blocks of the iconic bridge are plentiful as seen in the numerous structures telling Selma’s (and thus the nation’s) history.  And yet, it sometimes seems discouraging to look at how much work remains to be done to bring Selma to the standard of its historic peers.

However, just within the Selma Redevelopment Authority (SRA) area,  there is a plethora of successful restorations that contribute to life in Selma in countless ways.

First, there are all of the churches that maintain their houses of worship, and they become numerous quickly: Blue Jean, Brown Chapel AME, Church St. United Methodist, Cornerstone Presbyterian, First Baptist, First Baptist on MLK, Queen of Peace, Selma Avenue Church of Christ, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Shiloh Missionary Baptist, and the synagogue Temple Mishkan Israel.   Just outside of the SRA boundaries is Tabernacle Baptist Church which has proven itself to be model of acquiring National Park Service funding to preserve its historic structure.

Many local preservation projects took place more than 25 years ago.  After all, to be historic in nature, a structure only has to be 50 years old according to the National Register of Historic Places.  Let that sink in if you were born before 1975.

There are numerous structures in the downtown area whose preservation came through public means, often partnered with private and nonprofit entities too:  the Old Depot Museum, the St. James Hotel, the Walton Theatre, and the Performing Arts Center. These structures, like the churches, are all in use today and help to contribute to Selma’sunique sense of place. In addition, the local preservation society provided the means to restore the Bridgetender’s Home next to the St. James Hotel which is owned privately now. The adaptive reuse of the Carneal building by Arts Revive anchors the western end of Water Avenue, while nearby Gallery 905 and Arsenal Place are also examples of restored historic structures.

Along Broad Street, there are multiple examples of successful building preservation that bolster the economy and contribute to the well-being of Selma. This is not a comprehensive list by any means, but it’s a recognition of the effort being made by many business owners to ensure their buildings contribute positively to the historic streetscape. The Kress building continues to shine, and the 5&Dime provides a welcoming space for all. There are local pharmacies, a floral shop, a jewelry store, and other retail stores that work to ensure the streetscape is attractive and inviting while maintaining the historical integrity of their buildings. The Selma Times-Journal building and Reflections Coffee Shoppe are the most recent examples of this.

So, yes, there is still a lot of work to be done, but many successful preservation efforts have been made. Thank you to all who have played a part in preserving Selma’s history.

Sarah Aghedo is the executive director of the Selma Redevelopment Authority. She is writing a series of stories highlighting Preservation Month. To contact her, please call 334-407-9313 or email her at info@selmara.org. For more information, log on to www.selmara.org.