By Marla Jones, Reporter
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — In a special called meeting on Wednesday, the Fort Payne City Council made a the final decision on what to do with the old Mapco building at the corner of 5th Street and Gault Avenue North.
Several ideas had been considered over the last year, as to what to do with the building: renovation or removal.
Dan Fritts and Andy Olds of Fifth Dimension Architecture and Interiors, LLC, presented the Council with two ideas of how to utilize the building last month. Council President Brian Baine stated that the Council needed to decide what direction they would go with the building so that they could get something in place, whether it be a meeting area, museum, or city offices.
Ideas were tossed around as what the Council felt would be best for the City. Councilmember Gerald “Red” Taylor spoke about the possibility of having a welcome center on the property. In a previous term, it had been discussed to renovate the building with an old gas station feel.
Baine asked if it had been discussed to build a space similar to the previous structure that housed the Rainy Hotel. Councilmembers Wade Hill and Lynn Brewer proceeded to reply that that option would be very expensive.
After discussion, the members unanimously agreed to tear down the property. Brewer expressed that she did not want this to just be “an asphalt parking lot.” The property will be turned into a parking lot that will be landscaped and will include a walkway to the Coal & Iron Building.
“If in two to three years down the road, we want to put something there, then we can be better off financially.” Hill stated that removal of old structure will give the City a blank palette to use in the future.
Other items discussed:
- Proposal from MRS Consultants, LLC. concerning archaeological surveys of the
- Proposed gravity line sewer on Highway 11 North. (This was tabled until the May 17, 2018 meeting.)
- Discussed the CDBG grant to pursue the demolition of the old hospital site
- Addressed Splash Pad piping that was damaged during the winter months
- Mayor Larry Chesser advised that the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) will do a site visit on May 10, 2018 to check compliance with grant specifications for recently completed LED lighting project at City Hall.
- Moved the next regular Council meeting to May 17, 2018 at 12:00 p.m.
