Development may be built at West Main, John D. Odom

By Jim Cook

Published: August 19, 2008

A new shopping development may be in the works for an area near the intersection of West Main Street and John D. Odom Road, but city leaders aren’t saying what stores will anchor the development.

Dothan City Commissioner Taylor Barbaree said he talked about the new development at a community meeting with residents in the Westbrook neighborhood.

Barbaree said the meeting was held to discuss road widening and resurfacing plans for John D. Odom Road, but the development issue arose during the meeting.

Mayor Pat Thomas said development projects are in the works, but citing a confidentiality agreement, declined to specify a location or businesses. Thomas sent an e-mail to city commissioners recently thanking them for their pro-business attitude and announcing that there were some shopping center development plans underway. Thomas said Tuesday that an announcement would likely be made regarding two developments in about 60 days.

Barbaree confirmed that he had gotten Thomas’ e-mail and told residents at the meeting that shopping developments are on the way and showed them conceptual drawings he received from a friend with ties to the developer. Barbaree did not go into specifics about the project, and the conceptual drawings did not divulge what stores would be located in the center.

Brad Lipscomb, a resident who lives in the Westbrook neighborhood, said his neighbors aren’t happy about a potential shopping center in their back yard.

“Basically, our nice residential area is going to turn into a commercial nightmare,” he said.