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| Members of the Board of the Village of Spring Hill, Inc. are saddened at the recent loss of one of our members Helen Baumhauer DuMars. Helen was a founding member of the Board who gave freely of her time, organizational skills and vision to revitalizing her childhood neighborhood of Spring Hill in order to preserve the same spirit of community she enjoyed as a young girl. The merchants of Spring Hill, with whom she worked closely, and the Board will greatly miss Helen’s warmth, quick smile and eagerness to be involved. Her spirit will continue to be with us all.
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New bicycle racks-thanks to Regions Bank & Bert Hoffman!
This is a great example of a proactive Village resident. Thank you Bert Hoffman!
From an email:
Happy New Year ! Just wanted each of you to note that the Regions Bank on Old Shell near McGregor and the new one on University near Old Shell each have bicycle racks.
I had written the CEO of Regions almost a year ago pointing out that their advertising campaign of "banking so easy, it's like riding a bike" had a flaw - none of their banks in Mobile had bicycle racks. So a local representative called me and stated that they would put bicycle racks at these two banks.
So, let the District 7 residents and the Village of Spring Hill residents know that these locations now accommodate cyclists. Hope you have a great 2010.
New Board Members
New Board members were installed at the January 11, 2010 Board Meeting. They are:
Lewis Shreve (Treasurer), Guy Helmsing, Jr., Carolyn Miller, Jonathon Rudolph, Bradley Sanders, Jr.
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Newsletter (and donation form!) in the Mail
Look for this year's newletter in your mailbox! We appreciate every donation, and will use your money to improve the Village where you live. DOWNLOAD the newsletter and email it to your friends and neighbors or out of town friends who want to keep abreast of the great things happening in our community!!
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Village Clock is Dedicated
 On Thursday evening, October 29, as dusk settled, streetlights and store lights illuminated the new plaza at the corner of Old Shell Road and McGregor Avenue as a crowd of over 200 people gathered to celebrate the revitalization of Spring Hill and dedicate the new Village Clock. Lauding the accomplishments of The Village of Spring Hill and the efforts of the community were Mayor Sam Jones, Council President Reggie Copeland, and Council Member Gina Gregory. Linda St. John, President of TVSH, thanked the City and all who have worked hard to make possible the improvements to date.
In the midst of the ceremony in front of the new CVS building, the clock lit up and added its brilliance to the celebration. Tomi Sue Rusling, who with her husband Van established Carpe Diem Coffee & Tea Co. in 1995, spoke warmly of him and his commitment to Spring Hill and his vision for a clock as a landmark in the village center. The Reverend Brennan Peacock, Associate Minister of Ashland Place United Methodist Church, dedicated the clock to Van’s memory. The Village of Spring Hill is grateful to all who contributed to the clock, which is a fitting memorial to Van and a beautiful addition to our neighborhood.
Among those gathered for the evening were Spring Hill residents, business and property owners, Mobile City Council members John Williams and Fred Richardson and new Council Member Jermaine Burrell, other City officials, Chamber of Commerce representatives, and several members of Van Rusling’s family, including his parents from Jackson, Mississippi.
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The Village clock is installed!
Tuesday, September 15th the custom designed Village clock was installed in the pedestrian plaza in front of the new CVS building. Thank you Tomi Sue Rusling who did all the fund raising for this lovely addition to the Village. the clock is in honor of her late husband, Van Rusling - the founder of Carpe Diem Coffee & Tea Co.. We can hardly wait until Thursday when Linda St. John gets all the plants into the base planter for the full effect!
Thanks also go out to Dave Synder and Sandi Nicosia for taking pictures and making them available to us for our website and upcoming newsletter. The Mobile Press Register ran a nice feature on the front of the Metro/Region section as well.
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Drake Elms being planted!
The new trees being planted this month look wonderful and over the years will be create a beautiful streetscape. |
 So many improvements!!!
- The work on the intersection at McGregor and Old Shell has been completed.
- The sidewalks are done and being used!
- The new
street lights look completely fabulous!
- The landscaping and construction on the CVS exterior
looks wonderful.
- The fund-raising for the Village Clock is closer than ever before -we can hardly wait to see it installed.
- Several businesses have completed great-looking renovations...
- We love the renovation at Spring Hill College right at the entrance!
So many good things have happened and more are planned. The Village of Spring Hill is in the process of putting together a newsletter that we will mail out later in the Fall.
Sidewalks Are Underway!
Yes, the sidewalks are a reality! The bidding process on the long awaited sidewalks down the south side of Old Shell Road is complete. The City has awarded the contract, and construction
has officially begun. Five-foot wide sidewalks will now connect McGregor Avenue with University Boulevard!Read the Mobile Press Register Article
At The Crossroads...
The McGregor - Old Shell intersection at the very heart of our community is about to get a facelift. New plans call for larger islands constructed using Village pavers, new decorative traffic
signal poles, and paver crosswalks and signals. In addition to improving pedestrian safety, these improvements will enhance the aesthetics of our community and add to that “village feel.”
 Holiday Place
Work is nearly complete on new pedestrian-friendly access to the shops of Holiday Place. Adding to the wide sidewalks to be constructed are steps, benches, planters and special lighting. We think the new steps, retaining wall and benches are a wonderful addition to our Village community!
And Finally...
A special thank you to Council Members Gina Gregory and Reggie Copeland, the City administration, and State Representative Jamie Ison for their ongoing support. A big thanks are also in order for the private property owners and community members who have helped make these plans a reality! Also Thank You to BankTrust who kindly sponsored the printing of this month's news update for our friends who do not have email.
NOTE: This month we had our news update printed out so that our Village supporters who do not have email have a way to keep informed on the wonderful progress being made. If you know someone who would like to be informed CLICK HERE for out our printer-friendly version of this month's news for The Village of Spring Hill.
Thank you, Village supporters!
Because of your continuing support, The Village of Spring Hill has exciting news to share! There is, at long last, progress visible or imminent in the heart of our neighborhood center!
Sidewalks—a step closer!
Yes, the sidewalks are a step closer to reality! The bidding process on the long-awaited sidewalks down the south side of Old Shell Road is complete. The City and the State will award the bid for construction to begin in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Property owners—improvements in the works!
Several property owners in the Village center are making improvements to their properties incorporating The Village of Spring Hill guidelines for streetscapes. Over the last several months signature pavers, pedestrian lighting, trees, tree grates, and benches have been selected that will provide aesthetic appeal and a true neighborhood setting.
CVS—The Mitchell Company, Inc. has broken ground for the new CVS/pharmacy at the corner of Old Shell Road and McGregor Avenue. The Village of Spring Hill Board has worked closely with The Mitchell Company and the national CVS Corporation for months to create a building design in keeping with our traditional neighborhood character. This CVS will be unlike any other in the area and is scheduled for completion in the fall of this year.
Pedestrian Plaza—Acknowledging our community’s desire for a landmark village center, The Mitchell Company and CVS have worked with The Village of Spring Hill to create an attractive plaza as part of the new pharmacy construction. It will feature TVSH signature pavers, benches, a planting area for seasonal flowers, and a town clock, providing a tasteful rejuvenation for this aging corner.
 Clock-- The clock in the plaza will be dedicated to the memory of Van Rusling, who, with his wife Tomi Sue, opened Carpe Diem in 1995. Van was dedicated to the future of the historic Spring Hill area and revitalized the local merchants’ association in 1997. He served as its president until he had to retire due to illness. Van dreamed of a clock in the center of Spring Hill as a wonderful neighborhood marker. Tomi Sue Rusling and a committee of the Carpe Diem Runners Club have spearheaded the fundraising effort for the clock in Van’s memory. Proceeds from the 2008 Santa Claus run, as well as donations from sponsors in the area, are helping to make the clock a reality. For further information, contact Tomi Sue Rusling at (251) 209-7708.
**Pictured at the left is a clock that will be quite similar to what will be installed - including the raised planting bed!
In addition to the new development at the intersection, three property owners have made the financial commitment to transform their streetscapes and further the Village goal of creating a more pedestrian-friendly neighborhood center:
Holiday Place—Work is progressing on new pedestrian-friendly access to the shops of Holiday Place. Adding to the wide sidewalks to be constructed will be steps, benches, planters and special lighting.
Regions Bank—The old, damaged pear trees have been removed to make room for a new streetscape that will feature a wide sidewalk, new street trees with grates, and other improvements.
AT&T—The street front of this property will tie in with the sidewalks to be built on the south side of Old Shell Road, widening the pedestrian area for new trees and signature Village lighting.
October 2008
Sidewalk Update!
Good news!! The Village of Spring Hill Board has worked for two years to bring about sidewalks down Old Shell Road to University Boulevard. Well, they are about to become a reality! Sidewalks were the number one priority expressed by over 500 residents at the initial meeting in November of 2006. It is exciting to see the project coming to fruition at last! Engineering plans for the sidewalks have been approved by the State of Alabama and the City of Mobile and went out for advertisement this week on October 13, 2008. Around the first of November, the bidding should be complete and residents of Spring Hill will soon see construction begin.
At the request of The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. Mayor Sam Jones and the City of Mobile applied for the $379,000 Alabama State Transportation Enhancement Grant for the sidewalks. The City then funded the engineering costs not included in the grant and provided the matching funds necessary for the sidewalk project.
Thanks to these public officials, a big step has been taken toward a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood for The Village of Spring Hill.
October 2007
SIDEWALK GRANT TOTALLY FUNDED!!!!
Neighborhood sidewalks along Old Shell Road—from McGregor Avenue to University Boulevard—will become a reality. Mayor Sam Jones and City Council members Reggie Copeland and Gina Gregory announced that the City of Mobile will fund the matching portion of our $379,000 Transportation Enhancement grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation. The Village of Spring Hill will work with the City over the coming months to begin detailed engineering efforts and formally kick off the project. Stay tuned for additional updates on this exciting initiative. When we first formed The Village of Spring Hill this was the number one thing that residents said they wanted to see happen. We are proud to see this become a reality!
September 2007
Sidewalk Update
Neighborhood sidewalks down Old Shell Road from Spring Hill College to University Boulevard are in the initial stages of planning thanks to a $379,000 Transportation Enhancement Grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). The structure of the grant requires a further commitment of matching funds and engineering costs for approximately $113,000 before the grant can be accepted by the City of Mobile and the work begun. Currently this additional funding is being sought to make the eagerly anticipated sidewalk project a reality for our community.
Time for New Trees
The Bradford Pear trees in the McGregor/Old Shell Road area have served us well over the last two decades. However, as they have reached their maturity and are showing signs of old age and deterioration, The Village of Spring Hill has submitted an application to the Mobile Tree Commission to remove them in anticipation of new plantings in the area. As part of a Master Plan for The Village, a tree plan will evolve from the November community work sessions led by the team of Dover, Kohl & Partners. This new plan will then be submitted to the Tree Commission for approval. The Village of Spring Hill will work closely with the City of Mobile Urban Forestry Department, the Traffic Department and Keep Mobile Beautiful to make this beautification plan a reality as the first of many projects which will be the outcome of our community-designed Master Plan.
June 2007
The Village of Spring Hill Signs Contract with Town
Planning Firm Dover, Kohl & Partners
June 26, 2007 – The Village of Spring Hill, Inc., has signed a contract with nationally recognized town planning firm Dover, Kohl & Partners of Coral Gables, Fla. Over the next several months, Dover, Kohl & Partners will assist the Village in creating an updated master plan for the Spring Hill community in Mobile, Ala.
This is a HUGE step forward for the Village! Please stay abreast of news and plan to involve yourself and your family in this exciting future for our community. GET THE DETAILS!
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May 2007
Village of Spring Hill Update
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The request for rezoning of the property off Old Shell Road in Country Club Village was withdrawn at the Planning Commission meeting today, May 17, 2007. The owners plan to meet with Council Member Gina Gregory and the residents to reconsider the use of the property to be more in keeping with the neighborhood. The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. thanks the Long family for taking a second look at how this property can best enhance and preserve the charm of our Spring Hill community
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 Calling on Village photographers! We would love to have new photos to use on this site or in our collateral advertising. If you have some digital photos taken in Spring Hill that impart some of the flavor of the Village please feel free to send them to webmaster@thevillageofspringhill.com. As a non-profit organization every bit of help is most appreciated!
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Let’s Clean Up Spring Hill! >>>> March 31 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Round up your children, your neighbors, and your friends for the 2nd Annual Village Clean Up Day, co-sponsored by The Village of Spring Hill and Keep Mobile Beautiful.
Get bags from your street captain and fill them with trash from your yard, your street and your block. Deliver your bags on Saturday, March 31 between 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. to Clean Up Day Headquarters, located on the southwest corner of Old Shell and McGregor next to Spoke’n Trail. Bring your bags to Headquarters and pile them in one huge stack for everyone to see then join your neighbors and friends for some lively music and hot dogs and drinks from Mobile Gas.
Chairmen Brennan Myers and Abbie Bowren have put together a day of fun-all in the name of cleaning up! Both encourage you and your family to participate in this annual event. For questions about Clean Up Day, please contact Brennan or Abbie via this website. Email Now.
See you on the 31st
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March 13th was the second annual meeting of The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. at St. Paul’s Auditorium held at 6:30 p.m. Last year, when over 500 people attended the meeting, you told us what you would like to see happen. This year come and find out what your top 5 requests were for improving The Village of Spring Hill.Some exciting goals have been accomplished this year, and ongoing projects are in the works. Some of the most interesting and creative steps are ahead of us, and you will want to be a part of continuing to make The Village of Spring Hill something to be proud of. Tuesday, March 13th at St. Paul’s Auditorium – 6:30 pm.
You Asked For It… Now It Is Happening!
More sidewalks in Spring Hill were the number one priority of over 500 people who attended last year’s Village of Spring Hill annual meeting. At this year’s annual meeting, held March 13 at St Paul’s Moorer Theater, organization president Linda St. John reported a $379,000 Transportation Enhancement grant had been recently approved and is soon to be announced by the Governor’s Office. The grant will fund sidewalks on Old Shell Road from Spring Hill College to University Boulevard.
Equally important was the announcement of a Comprehensive Community Grant awarded by The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The grant will fund the development of comprehensive urban planning for the area as well as the subsequent early phases of implementation. Senator Hap Myers initiated the search for funds and guided the VSH organization through the application process.
To make improvements to the intersection of Old Shell Road and McGregor Avenue, Council Member Gina Gregory has pledged over $200,000 from her District 7 budget.
The sidewalk grant is the result of The Village of Spring Hill, Inc. arranging a meeting with Mayor Sam Jones and a group of people who could represent Spring Hill’s interest in sidewalks. Senator Hap Myers, Representative Jamie Ison, Commissioner Steven Nodine, and City Council Members Gina Gregory and Reggie Copeland joined the effort to get the City of Mobile to request the grant on behalf of the Spring Hill area.
Other priorities addressed in the past year included the planting of more trees and the possible relocation of power lines at McGregor and Old Shell. To learn more about what’s been accomplished and what’s next, read the full text of Linda St. John’s speech.
January 2007
Interested in the connection that can vastly improve health, safety and environmental protection? Come see Dan Burden of Walkable Communities at an admission-free event on either Wednesday, January 17, 7:00 p.m. Daphne Civic Center or Thursday, January 18, 7:00 p.m. Foley Civic Center. Named by Time Magazine as one of the six most important civic innovators in the world, Burden and his non-profit consulting firm, Walkable Communities are dedicated to creating better places in which to live, work, play and raise our families. Come learn how! Brought to you by Baldwin County Trailblazers, the City of Daphne and the City of Foley. For more information, call 928-2282 or 626-6116. http://www.walkable.org/
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Tree Planting in Spring Hill Village a Huge Success
 Ninety-seven volunteers met at the top of Spring Hill on Saturday morning, Jan. 13, 2007, to plant 122 live oak trees which will further enhance the beautiful Oak canopy for which Spring Hill has always been known. The majority of trees were planted up Old Shell Road from I-65 to McGregor Avenue with the remainder going down Museum Drive leading to Langan Park.
The Village of Spring Hill members, volunteers from Keep Mobile Beautiful and the City of Mobile Parks Department teamed up to do the work. Young people from St. Paul’s, Spring Hill College, UMS-Wright and Wilmer Hall as well as other areas of the City turned out in great numbers to assist in the community effort.
The trees were purchased by a grant from the Hearin Chandler Foundation which has for 25 years gifted hundreds of thousands of dollars to the City of Mobile and other organizations to fund tree planting throughout the City.
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Last updated:
October 25, 2011
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