City presents College Street streetscape master plan to Old Cloverdale ARB

Lois Cortel, representing the City of Montgomery Department of Economic Development, told the Architectural Review Board on an informational briefing that the city has spent about a year developing a streetscape master plan for College Street between Carter Hill Road and East Fairview. "The top improvement request that we heard was sidewalks," Cortel said, describing extensive outreach, a 200‑page appendix and a consultant team led by Foresight Group.

Cortel said the plan focuses on safety and walkability after multiple near‑miss pedestrian collisions on College Street, including one injurious hit‑and‑run. The plan's three primary recommendations for the Old Cloverdale Historic District are: (1) convert the Felder Avenue intersection to an exit‑only to reduce cut‑through traffic; (2) reconfigure the Magnolia Curve approach so drivers on College cannot veer onto Magnolia Curve, impacting two homes but improving the crossing; and (3) construct sidewalks on the east side of College Street within the public right‑of‑way, add street trees and install two to four targeted center tree islands to narrow the roadway and reduce speeding.

Scott Pierce, president of the Old Cloverdale Association, spoke for the neighborhood and said he supports the plan. "I think it'll change the, it'll it'll be a game changer for College Street," Pierce said, emphasizing neighborhood backing for traffic‑calming measures. Board members asked about utility conflicts with new sidewalks and whether poles would be relocated; Cortel said design engineering will address utilities and that the city will coordinate with forestry and traffic engineering during later design phases.

The board was told the briefing was informational because streets and rights‑of‑way fall outside the ARB's review authority; Cortel said the plan will proceed to the Planning Commission and could come before City Council for funding and construction decisions. The presentation materials and the full report are posted on the city's website.