Opelika: Historic Past - New Direction
By BethSnipes
Opelika, there’s no place else like it on earth, really. Google it and you’ll see it’s the only one in the world. It’s not just its name that sets this city apart, though. Its historic neighborhoods and downtown give Opelika a veneer of a loved family heirloom. Handsome victorian homes with sweeping front porches invite us to slow down and sit awhile.
Opelika isn’t stuck in it’s past, though, so don’t sit too long, there’s too much to see and do. When you drive around the city it’s clear that its history is a big part of the city’s personality but combining it with the new is what makes it a stand-out. The revitalized downtown showcases 19th-century buildings that house 21st-century businesses.
Preserving the old and encouraging new growth is tricky but with foresight, planning and a Historic Commission, Opelika is pulling it off. The downtown revitalization is more than a paint job, it’s a streetscape. Preservation is all about the details and the streetscape projects have them covered. New sidewalks, streets and landscaping are what you notice ?rst but even the wiring is run underground for a clean new “old” look.
“We did South Railroad Avenue last summer,” says Mayor Gary Fuller. A pleasant surprise was unearthed in the process. “Under the asphalt were the original bricks,“ explains Fuller. Some were in good condition but others had deteriorated beyond recycling. “We used as many of them as we could.” explains Fuller. It’s these details that gives the city its character. “ The downtown has never looked better,” says the mayor.
Opelika’s reputation as a charming city got a big boost when, in 2002, Expansion Management Magazine ranked Opelika-Auburn MSA as one of the country’s 50 Hottest Cities and they weren’t talking about the weather. It’s all about a city’s location, reasonable living cost, quality and quantity of its workforce and it’s business environment. It isn’t easy making the list of the top 50 places in the country to expand or relocate a business. A panel of corporate site selectors review every detail of a city’s business climate before awarding it’s distinction.
A lot has happened since Opelika made the list. Tigertown added the” fun to have down the street” stores and new manufacturing plants give workers the wherewithal to enjoy them. “Part of our desire is to see the city grow,” explains Mayor Fuller.
“Our economic growth has been fabulous,” says Fuller. Since new businesses leads to population growth, it’s happening. New homes are springing up all around town “ We have great new residential neighborhoods, from starters to executive homes,” Fuller says.
Opelika is a small city that lives big. An easy way to get the pulse of a city is by its art community and Opelika’s is a strong presence. The Opelika Center for the Performing Arts is a perfect example of blending the old and new. Where else can you see the National Philharmonic of Russia one month and Roseanne Cash the next? The Opelika Arts Association is the center of it all. It heads the annual arts festival, runs an art in education program and maintains a permanent art exhibit in its Opelika Depot headquarters.
As the proverb says, “Preserve the old, but know the new.” Through balancing historic preservation and new growth, Opelika has followed this wisdom perfectly.
Beth Snipes is a freelance writer living in Auburn. She can be reached at bsnipesatl@mindspring.com.
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