Meet Mayor Derzis
The results are in and on November 3rd one of Riverchase’s own takes over as Mayor. Many of us know him already, attended one of his onsite appearances, or watched his podcast interviews. We sense the excitement of something new in the offing.
I recently sat down with the mayor and asked him some questions that impact Riverchase and its broader community. We began with: “What are your plans for developing the Riverchase end of Hoover?”
“If we revitalize Patton Creek and the Galleria, other commerce will follow. It used to draw shoppers from all around the area and the location still works well for Costco. We just need to determine what the residents will support.”
He went on to say. “Let’s bring back the Hoover of a few years ago when we were the shining example other Alabama cities wanted to imitate. Hoover already has a low crime rate and an excellent education system – two of the important things in attracting newcomers.
“But there are things that can be done to improve, among other things, our visual appeal. For example, look at highway 31 from Vestavia into Hoover. It needs a makeover with more trees and better lighting for beginners.
“We need to build more starter homes for young couples, and more entertainment opportunities for teens. Let’s revitalize abandoned buildings for commerce rather than constructing new ones.”
As for the future of Riverwalk Village, he said he has met with the developer and is eager for the work to continue. Stay tuned for more information on this as it becomes available.
He said he has ‘a top-notch transition team’ in place studying every aspect of the city government.
Let’s wish Mayor Derzis well and keep the excitement of his election going well into the coming year!
