Residents of nearby area react to Country Crossing

Barbara Gray picked up her morning Dothan Eagle, as usual.

When she glanced at the front page, however, her life changed.

Thursday’s announcement of the location of the proposed Country Crossing development spread quickly through the community where the site will be located.

“We found out about it in the paper this morning,” said Gray, who lives with her husband and three children on West Smithville Road. She said her family is being forced to move from their home because of their landlord selling his land to Ronnie Gilley Properties.

“The landlord’s wife told my wife we have to be out by the end of this month,” said Ronnie Gray Sr., Barbara’s husband. “We’ve lived here for four years, and they didn’t let us know nothing. It’s pretty bad putting a family out like this because of something like that.”

According to the Grays, their landlord, who Ronnie identified as Andy Walker, failed to communicate with them, and nobody from Ronnie Gilley Properties contacted the family.

“We haven’t found a place. There’s nowhere to rent for a family like ours,” Barbara said.

Ronnie said time was the biggest factor for the family.

“If they gave us more time, we could have found a place. At this point, though, it could be April before we find a place to live,” he said.

It’s not just tenants who haven’t been told of the development plans in advance, however.

Jerome Buckley, who has owned property on the same road for 12 years, said he was never contacted by Gilley or his representatives.

“I haven’t heard a word from them,” said Buckley, who lives in a house at 103 W. Smithfield Road.

Buckley said he later spoke with a Gilley representative who answered some of his questions.

“He said as of now it’s going to stop by the horse farm across the creek. From what I understand, they’re not going to go down this far,” Buckley said. “From what I’ve heard, though, they haven’t talked to them either about selling.”

“I’ve talked to everybody on this road, and nobody has seen any money yet, but Gilley is saying a deal has been reached. How has a deal been reached when no one has seen any money yet,” he added.

Buckley said he isn’t going to let the Crossing force him from his home, though he’d welcome bid offers.

“If they want it, they can buy it,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not going to stick a for-sale sign in my yard. They can come talk and we’ll see what we can do.”

For local business owners, the Crossing is a bit of a mixed bag.

“It’ll probably help my business eventually,” said Karen Draper, who co-owns Sadie’s Flea Market with her sisters, Jan Key and Lori Stephens. “At first, people may spend their money there and slow down here, but once the ‘new’ feeling wears off, in the long run it’ll help my business.”

Key agrees.

“I think it’ll increase our business. There’ll be more people from different areas and different states,” Key said.

Key, Stephens and Draper all live on Olympia Drive, which is near the proposed Crossing location.

One thing all local residents seem to agree on, however, is the potential for traffic problems.

“I dread the traffic,” Draper said. “If they build it, and I’m still skeptical about that, traffic will be backed up every day.”

Both her sisters chimed in with similar concerns.

“From a residential standpoint, I’d rather have it somewhere else,” Stephens said.

Traffic is especially a concern for those living on Smithville Road, according to Buckley.

“The only thing that bothers me is it looks like this would be backed up. I would probably be bombarded with 18-wheelers,” Buckley said.

Even those who have been adversely affected by the Crossing are quick to point out the positive aspects of it, however.

“I don’t mind it coming this way,” Gray Sr. said. “Look at all these people who go to Florida and Georgia to spend their money. Why not come here to Dothan and spend their money?”

Buckley has no issues with the Crossing itself either.

“I think it’ll be good. We just have to trust what (Gilley) says,” Buckley said.

Kenneth West, who owns the land occupied by the flea market and Olympia Drive, said as long as taxes remain the same, he will support the development.

“I’m for it if some of the money goes to the county and the state and it will not impact homeowners’ and landowners’ taxes,” he said.