By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – Members of the Montevallo Development Cooperative District discussed amending the deadlines for potential restaurateurs looking to open business in Montevallo’s Alabama Coach Building during a Dec. 11 meeting.

The original deadline for letters of interest was Nov. 21, with final written proposals due Jan. 7.

County Manager Alex Dudchock recommended the MDCD, which is made of a representative from the University of Montevallo, city of Montevallo and county leadership, make clear that with the holiday season, the original dates were not “market sensitive.”

Dudchock said he was “encouraged by the interest” from potential restaurateurs, but the project needed more interest.

Dudchock said there is “no sense of urgency having a tenant in the early part of 2013,” but focus should be on the second quarter of the year.

Construction on the promenade, which will provide additional public parking to the potential restaurant site and the university bookstore, will be complete by February.

The MDCD will advertise bids for contractor pricing for work on the interior and “slight exterior modifications” of the pending bookstore in late January or early February, Dudchock said.

The MDCD took bids last week for construction on the University of Montevallo on Main building, or the former Alabama Power building. The project will be awarded to Birmingham-based Trawick Construction as the general contractor. The project is expected to be complete in mid-June in time for fall classes.

The MDCD voted to purchase sales tax insurance to protect funding for MDCD projects, a portion of which are paid for by sales tax revenue. The insurance, which will cost $830 per year, will cover loss of revenue in the case of natural disaster.

“I think it’d be a prudent thing to do,” said Reed Prince, the county’s representative on the MDCD.

The city and university partners of MDCD contributed funds for a “welcome to Montevallo” sign across from Eclipse Coffee and Books. The sign, which will be maintained by the Shelby County Board of Education, will display messages from the city, university and school system.

The brick sign will “match the character of downtown and the university,” said David Hunke, Shelby County planning services supervisor.

The MDCD will meet again Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. at Parnell Memorial Library.