Community Revitalization Director Doug Adkins went to the commission earlier in May seeking approval to demolish the building because it is in a historic district. The initial proposal indicated water seeping into the building was causing damage to a building at 34 S. Main St. that shares a common interior wall.
But it was apparently a heated discussion as commission chair Nancy Romero said Friday that Adkins attempted to “bully” the commission Thursday night into approving the hardship application. Romero, and commission member Matt Dixon, were the two dissenting votes.
Romero said the commission was told if it did not support the application that City Council “would override our decision.”
Adkins said the 90-minute presentation was “a very contentious discussion.” He said he was not attempting to bully the commission but rather being honest in the city’s position.
“I was candid in my presentation and discussions that the Rose Furniture building was causing immediate and ongoing damage to the structure to the left and that the city couldn’t let that continue,” Adkins said. “I asked for their support under those conditions, and was also candid that if they turned it down, we would likely have to immediately appeal on to City Council for relief to stop the damage.”
Romero believed the application should have been denied completely because “they did not prove their case for hardship.”
She said it’s irrelevant if the city would spend more than 60 percent of the value of the building because improvements would increase the property’s value. But she said the city did not give adequate support as to why the former furniture store could not be used for anything but its designed intent; and the city did not attempt to market or sell the building.
“It could be offices or housing,” she said.
Adkins said the next step will to send out request for proposals to see what types of demolition estimates are given to the city.
Bank manager considers council bid
A manager at the Fifth Third Bank at the Towne Mall is considering a run for City Council.
John Jackson, 32, of Bexley Drive, pulled petitions last month to run for an at-large seat. He would be running against incumbents Dan Picard and Ann Mort, and Dora Bronston, the president of the Middletown unit of the NCAA.
Jackson said he’ll be running on the platform of “protecting public safety.”
He said it’s been a passion of his ever since one of his two daughters became sick and needed an ambulance.
“The fire department got there in what seemed like 2 minutes,” Jackson said. “That’s one thing I’d like to try to protect in the city.”
The political novice said he is working on his signatures and organizing his campaign committee. However, he said he will not turn his signatures in if everything is not set up.
“I want to make sure I have a shot of winning this,” Jackson said.
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