Rezoning aims to preserve historic homes
Reginald Gracie’s plans to rescue two historic homes in Demopolis came one step closer Thursday when the Demopolis City Council voted to rezone the properties from R-3 Two-Family Residential to R-4 Multi-Family Residential.
The two homes are located at 400 and 407 E. Washington St.
The rezoning did not come without some concerns from Council members and Mayor Woody Collins. Top on the list was the requirement that black-topped or concrete off-street parking be provided for all residents of the refurbished homes.
Building inspector Julius Rembert said Gracie already has parking as part of the plan.
Mayor Collins is a staunch opponent of spot-zoning, but he supported the measure “to save a neighborhood that’s is disrepair and got dilapidated buildings and to save historic homes in the community.”
He stressed, “This is not a green light for anybody in this community that’s got an old home sitting somewhere to come running in here saying they want to make apartments.”
“We are not establishing a precedent,” Collins said.
Councilman Bill Meador pointed out that the property is located in a mixed zone area.
The measure passed on a 4-0-1 vote with Councilman Charles Jones Jr. abstaining.
In other business, Councilman Jim Stanford asked about plans to demolish the old police station. Rembert said the building contains hazardous material, and earlier estimates put the cost of demolition extremely high.
“We’re working very, very diligently on dilapidated property around the community, and I feel we need to set as good an example as we are asking the citizens to set,” said Collins.
The Council voted for the City Clerk to request quotes on removing the hazardous material and demolishing the building.
Rembert told the Council the Demopolis Fire and Rescue will have a training exercise Saturday as it burns down a condemned house on Monroe Street. Demolition is scheduled for a house on East Pettus Street.
The sewage leak seeping behind Richard Fountain’s home on Ash Street has been repaired, ending a problem that has gone on for decades. After the rain abates, city project manager Mike Baker will take samples of water to make sure there is no further contamination.
As for covering the ditch, Collins said it will be a long-term project with no easy solution.
Walker Reynolds, director of the Park and Rec Department, asked the Council to declare one of the department’s trucks as surplus property. The problem is that the title to the truck cannot be found. The Council voted to declare the truck surplus property after the City Clerk applies for a new title.
Collins praised Black Warrior Electric Coop for the speed in erecting street lights in the French Creek area. He said the request was made on Friday, and the lights were put up by Monday.
Councilman Meador asked what possible action can be taken on the old fire station at Cedar and Capital. The Council turned the matter over to the Building Committee.