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YMCA building dangerous
Published Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tom Bolton speaks to Council
SELMA — Orange cones and tape mark off the sidewalk in front of the once famous YMCA building across the street from Selma City Hall.
It appears, unless people in the community get together, the building might become a thing of the past intead of a relic of the past.
Tom Bolton, a local developer who owns the building, told the Selma City Council Tuesday night he can’t take the risk that the building might one day fall on the heads of people walking o the idewalk.
Bolton had an engineer and other specialists examine the struture.
Ronald E. Martin, a structural engineer from Tuscaloosa, wrote a letter to Bolton after an examination of the building in October.
It was the second time he had examined the building since Sept. 1, 2006.
“Originally, there were several small isolated areas within the building where the floor was dangerous to walk,” Martin said. “The damage at these areas was not enough to deem the overall building unstable or dangerous. My recent inspection revealed large sections of the roof and floors have deteriorated and collapsed.”
Martin said in his professional opinion the building “is beyond reasonable repair.
Bolton told the council he came into possession of the property after First Baptist Church donated it to him. Bolton, who is part of the Sunrise Selma organization decided the building might be used to provide lofts for downtown living on the top floor and commercial or retail space, such as a grocery, down stairs.”
Sunrise Selma is a group of investors who have obtained structures in downtown and want to turn them into viable centers for residential and commercial use.
“I’m not going to tear down the building, yet, but it is a liability to me and to the city,” Bolton said.
Bolton will go before the historical commission when it meets later this month or next to discuss plans for the building. He said he appeared before the city council to keep them informed.
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Comments
Posted by steeldogwood (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 2:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the previous owners apparently were engaging in something called "demolition by neglect" and have a lot to answer for. This is a practice of allowing a structure to deteriorate to the point that it is condemned and the owners are "forced" to pull it down. As I've heard it, they dearly wanted to pull the building down to add yet another parking-lot...like they haven't already defaced downtown with parking lots.
It's a shame and a pity that the building was allowed to deteriorate this way. Looks like they might get their wish, after all. Let's hope that Sunrise Selma can find a solution.
Posted by imclean (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here we go again! Apparently the pompous whine of last months letter to the Editor didn't get the investors needed for the project, so he wants to sell the brick and heart pine. When the building was given to him for a song why in the world didn't this Accountant/Contractor have some of his workers patch the roof and clean it up? Not seeing the Engineering report, I suspect there is room for rehab to the building.
I hope the Historical Commission uses wisdom in any decision it makes. We are tearing down more than we are building in Selma. Oh, by the way: "where is the Community Development???"
Posted by steeldogwood (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the state of the building is not Bolton's fault. See the "previous owners" for that crime.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to see a report of how many buildings downtown are truly deteriorated beyond repair. It's obvious most of these "owners" have been sitting on them for years with no intent to fix them. If they are "fixable", then FIX THEM. If they aren't, then do us all a favor and remove them. How about freeing up the space for other "possible" future construction downtown. Sitting on space isn't revitalizing downtown, it's hindering it.
If "Community Development" would get active and serve a purpose then maybe downtown Selma could have possibilities for rehabed space. I'm curious to when the last time the "City" actually called a meeting with the building owners to discuss a 5, 10, 15 year plan for development and prosperity OR the tearing down and clearing of the space? I guarantee they don't even know which buildings can or can't be fixed.
Posted by MintJulep (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish someone from the City would make the Freedom Foundation get on the ball and fix the outside of the Tepper's building so it isn't such an eyesore. WHERE are those windows they *said* they ordered about a year ago??
MJ
Posted by HistoryBoy (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a person that's interested in historic communities, I think it is tragic that citizens of Selma feel the need to criticize true ingenuity and vision. Tom Bolton with his supposed "pompous whine" has actually been a voice for change and improvement for Selma.
And, in fact, it is such repulsion of change that is tearing down our community--not Tom Bolton and his constructive eye. His creative revenue streams will change Selma for the better because he has the sincere intent to help the city.
For those people who would rather point fingers than buck up and help, I wish you would think twice. Change is never easy, but I'm certain nothing good comes from inaction.
My question is this: Where are $12.5 million dollars worth of bonds going? I know that some of those funds must go towards infrastructure projects and the like, but could any of that support go towards "community development?"
Isn't it about time to welcome creativity and shun negativity?
Posted by NotMe (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would anyone think that a City that cannot collect $1,000,000+ in unpaid garbage fees and keeps providing services would have the ability or the will to effect the actions of a developer?
Posted by I_saw_what_you_did_in_Selma (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a shame to let these buildings fall in ruin, but I have to ask "fix them up for what purpose?" Nobody is going to open a store and rent retail space downtown. And, the owners of these buildings aren't likely to sink money into them that they can't recoup either by renting out the property or selling it.
The comment about putting lofts in the old YMCA - I'm sorry, but I actually laughed out loud over that absurdity. Nobody wants to go to downtown Selma to work or shop or live. If it weren't for the old churches and the few remaining businesses that have been there for generations, the whole area would be a ghost town other than on Market Day and Jubilee.
This is similar to what happened in the "rust belt." The economy tanked so bad that factories and commercial buildings were left to collapse. There was no need for them and because the economy was so bad, there was no money or initiative to fix them up. Thirty plus years later and they still haven't recouped most of those old buildings. With Selma, this isn't anything to do with the recent problems with the economy. Selma has been on a downhill decline for decades. Selma has it's own issues aside from the current economic woes - the number one being that Selma is it's own worst enemy.
Posted by eeashe (anonymous) on November 12, 2009 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who in their right mind would spend a dime in downtown Selma. This town is a sinking ship and wishes won't get anything done. I truly would like to see this town prosper as I have about 15 properties scattered around the City and
mine ARE kept up , probably the reason I am retired and broke,but , that would be another story. Too many grants have been wasted in this town for many years with brick sidewalks basically going through a slum area to park work etc. Nothing should have been spent on the river in the past or future unless a Casino barge is placed there to generate business and jobs. Just keep your eye on the St. James and think about a banana peel. In the 1950's Selma was a little larger than Dothan and now we are under 20,000
and Dothan is around 70,000 and they never had a Craig Field to lose, so we can't blame that. If things continue we won't be the 17th poorest County in the US, we will be the 1st. We couldn't even have a Restaurant on Broad because it was a few feet too close to First Baptist, but, many First Baptist members rush to the Country Club and the Elks to eat, etc. and people still have hope this town will improve. PLEASE !!!!!!! I'm sure I will catch hell for my comments if they are seen. But, I could care less. Peace!
Posted by I_saw_what_you_did_in_Selma (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The only thing that will save Selma is to extend I-85 through the town and on into Jackson, MS. Otherwise, it will continue to slowly die.
Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Intense Police action is Selma's only hope. Millions have fled the country of Sudan and live in camps hoping to be able to go back one day. Thousands have fled Selma and would love to come home; However, we're not living in camps and have found better lives after leaving. Do we miss our friends, neighborhoods, the river, Lannie's?... sure we do. But, having my truck broken into twice in the last two months before leaving doesn't make me want to load the U-haul and head that way. Selma is already living on credit (the bond issue), and your mayor made the statement that if the bond issue didn't pass that he didn't know what they were going to do. In the real world, we would adjust our budget, but I guess living on credit is an acceptable way of life in the black belt. popdukes12
Posted by Pagan (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad there's no way to hold the previous owners accountable for the destruction of this building. They only saw it as good for holding up their jesus banner.
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