Once, it was a nod to the earliest days of the city’s history.
But what was once an asset has become a significant eyesore, an unappealing blemish in an area that has been beautifully reinvented through the addition of the Riverwalk, the river bridge renovation and the Columbus Soccer Complex.
This morning, the city of Columbus officially closed on the purchase of the Gilmer Inn and the old Brumley Sporting Goods building next door. Both will be demolished as part of a plan which — with the help of the Columbus-Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau — will demolish or repurpose four buildings between the Varsity Theater and Third Street along the north side of Main.
The city is still awaiting word on whether Columbus Light & Water will agree to loan the city $650,000 for the project. In the meantime, the city has decided to move on its own with the Gilmer purchase ($425,000) and, should CL&W decide not to provide the loan, will fund the purchase through its general fund, which has grown by almost $1 million from sales tax revenues when compared to the last 12-month period.
While there are no plans for the site, the purchase and demolition represents a significant step forward in the city’s determined effort to improve the city’s profile and make it more appealing for development.
A year-and-a-half ago, the city formed a redevelopment authority to identify neighborhoods in need of attention. City officials hoped to partner with the county to fund the cost of a redevelopment project adjacent to the soccer complex, but county officials have a different vision of what that redevelopment should be and have balked at joining that effort.
The city’s decision to purchase the Gilmer and other properties along Main Street demonstrates the city is not content to sit idly by while those talks with the county continue.
Clearly, there will be no shortage of opinions as to the best use of the property once it has been cleared. But one thing that everyone is likely to agree on is that this is an important step forward in the continuing success story of downtown Columbus.
At roughly the same time the city formed its redevelopment authority, California-based preservationist/developer Gayle Guynup purchased the historic Depot on the east end of downtown on Main Street. Demo/restoration work started in September. As it is with the Gilmer property, no plans for the Depot have been determined.
When all those plans have been finalized, Main Street will have achieved its most significant transformation in recent memory.
The significance of this should not be underestimated.
In the vernacular of real estate industry, Main Street and downtown is to the larger area what a well-manicured lawn is to a home. Curb appeal, they call it, and it can be a powerful inducement to future development.
So, as the city continues to pursue its original redevelopment plan, its determined effort to do now what it can, where it can, displays an optimistic view of the city’s future and what it can be.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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