When Columbus-Lowndes Development Link CEO Joe Higgins first arrived in Columbus, his only mandate from city officials was to get the town a movie theater.
Nearly nine years later, Higgins received another mandate from the City Council in a special meeting Tuesday morning to discuss retail, economic and regional development.
“Our main concern is retail development,” said Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box, adding he is satisfied with the Link’s efforts to bring in economic development. But he expressed concerns about vacant stores and businesses.
The Link has had success in bringing recent developments such as Tractor Supply Co., Zaxby’s restaurant and TJ Maxx, which have contributed to the city’s $130,000 sales tax increase this fiscal year, Higgins said. And many factors, including owners who refuse to sell and will only lease their buildings, are out of the organization’s control.
“We maintain a list of (available) buildings and submit buildings (to developers) for deals as they come in,” he said. “I think we market these buildings fairly well. I think we’re aggressive.
“Retailers want to be secret,” he continued. “But when they apply for building permits, it is public. Inquiries are not. We’ve got a problem with that.”
A “major retailer” is visiting the area next week, Higgins revealed, declining to identify the company, but an unfinished development also is hindering the city’s suitability to potential developers.
“When they come, they’re going to see a hotel that is probably never going to be finished,” he said, referring to a now-halted hotel development near Belk department store on Highway 45 North.
Canton-based Jackie’s International began work on the property as a Hampton Inn, and work has stalled more than once and is again at a standstill.
“We’re worried about attracting retail and (the hotel’s) impact on the neighborhood,” Higgins said. “You don’t expect this Johnny-Cash-I’ll-build-it-one-piece-at-a-time deal.
“I think, if you’ll look at a town this size, (considering) desktop demographers are modeling population growth, I think we’re doing a better job than most organizations in the South our size,” he added. “When you look at our resources, staff, financials, the product we’re selling and what’s been added in the last nine years, I think it’s good. Can it be better? Absolutely. We think if we work enough deals, we’ll get lucky enough or better enough to get these deals.”
Industrial development
Including buildings formerly occupied by Johnson Electric (which Higgins noted soon will be “ready for the wrecking ball”), Baldor Electric and Airline Manufacturing, as well as a building currently occupied by Omnova, which likely will close, Columbus will have about 2 million square feet of industrial buildings vacant within the city limits.
And a redevelopment plan is necessary, Higgins said, responding to inquiries from Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor.
“Nobody feels good we can land a quality tenant in those buildings,” he explained. “They’re old buildings. The existing buildings probably aren’t suitable for next (generation) industry.
“And ingress and egress is problematic,” he added. “There’s no good way to get in and out of the sites. We’ll market them, but low-ceiling manufacturing plants are not very marketable.”
Another hotel
Higgins also was asked about development plans for the Gilmer Hotel on Main Street.
“Yes, indeed, it is still a priority,” he said, noting earlier options lapsed on the property, which would require an investment of about $16 million.
The Link signed an option to buy the 75-room motel in September 2011.
“But we’ve got the Fairfield Inn, and another (hotel) is about to open (on adjacent property),” he added. “If we get a third hotel, the Gilmer probably doesn’t happen.”
The Fairfield Inn opened last year off 18th Avenue North; work on a Courtyard by Marriott is expected to begin this year on the same campus.
Regional development
Higgins also responded to questions from the council regarding the Link’s recent agreement to help in recruiting business and industry to West Point and Clay County.
The West Point-Clay County Growth Alliance will pay the Link $350,000 annually to have representation on the Link board and one staff member, who will be located in the Columbus Link office, dedicated solely to West Point and Clay County.
Under the three-year contract, The Growth Alliance will remain active as the area’s chamber of commerce and will continue to operate the community’s Main Street program.
Higgins noted the Link is preparing to submit a resolution on the partnership to the City Council, but the partnership, which was approved by the Link’s board of directors, is not contingent on passing of the resolution.
“We expect to have everything in place by July 1,” he said, adding the Link likely will use the same “headhunter” who brought Higgins to Columbus to identify and recruit the new economic development staff member.
“How does the West Point deal affect Columbus?” asked Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem.
“When a project comes in, if both communities are a fit, we’re going to submit both counties,” Higgins answered. “The company will decide where it goes. We’re not going to pick winners and losers.
“The nature of the deal is going to decide where it goes,” he continued. “It requires y’all to compete, to be competitive, to be the place of choice. We can all compete well, but it’s going to force everyone to compete.”
Karriem concluded the meeting by asking what the council can do to improve development opportunities in Columbus.
“Let’s talk about the 800-pound gorilla in the room,” he said. “With less than 18 months before the election, what do we have to do to have a better working relationship with the Link?”
Higgins noted the city’s population loss is a problem and reminded the council of the Link’s efforts, which went unheeded, to convince previous administrations to annex Columbus Air Force Base into city limits.
“Desktop modelers (for development) see four decades’ lost population,” he said. “The (recommended) core values — safety, fiscal responsibility and cleanliness — we brought you (at the Link’s inception) made you mad. And without exception, our Board of Supervisors will come to our office frequently to ask about issues. That does not happen on the city side.
“The simple things will get us there,” he added. “But I’ve got major, major concerns. The city is at a competitive disadvantage with the county on (available) sites and taxation. You shouldn’t be paying us to be loving you; you should be paying us to help you win.”
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