Council says shuttered Jackson neighborhood center safe to reopen

Council says shuttered Jackson neighborhood center safe to reopen

Repairs still needed, but facility OK to occupy, says report

news@theeveningtimes.com

The revival of the Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Center has bubbled up in city meetings for the last three weeks.

City Council heard Ward 5 Alderman Willis Mondy’s desire for rehabbing and reopening the boarded up building. Calls to reopen the center were heard in two more meetings between the Planning and Development Department and citizens concerned with allocating the anticipated $200,000 Community Development Block Grant.

The most popular item under consideration at the CDBG public meetings entailed remodeling and reopening the neighborhood center closed in June 2015.

Concerning the center, Mondy delivered news to the city council of the arrest of youth volunteer coach Kyle Watkins on felony drug charges. Watkins had openly contended with the council about getting standing at both the L.R. Jackson Girls Club and the Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Center.

City Council voted to close the center for health and safety reasons after Watkins set to open an unproved after school meal and tutoring program at the neighborhood center. After loosing key control to the unattended building and changing locks, the city boarded up the vandalized building but kept the utilities on. The center has been closed now for 20 months, but the city kept the HVAC and lights on. The lights provided security and the proper temps and air circulation kept the building from deteriorating with mold. City Treasurer Frank Martin twice transferred money into the fund at the closed building.

“We paid utilities amounting to about $10,000 per year,” said Martin.

With his next statement after announcing Watkins arrest, Mondy said the center was safe and called for it to reopen.

No work to remodel the building was done before it was shuttered. No improvements were undertaken while the center was closed for health and safety. Only inspectors had been inside to give opinions and estimates.

“We’ve had several people that looked at it and they’ve all said it can be occupied,” said Mondy “You can occupy it,” confirmed Councilman Tracy Catt who had gathered the original repair estimates.

“It does need some work done in a couple of bathrooms and parts can be cordoned off until there is a fix,” said Mondy, “But we need that building opened by summer.”

Catt provided a detailed to-do list.

“Most of the work needs to be on the northeast side for the building,” said Catt.

“It needs to be cordoned off. Sheet rock needs torn down. If you are looking for temporary you are looking at the main foyer, the two little offices up front and two more offices, the bathrooms accessible from that center section – clean those up, replace broken glass. The price tag would be less than $75,000.”

Council informally kicked around ideas about leasing the center to a non-profit and seemed to reach a consensus that the building should continue as a community meeting center and not be leased to an organization for programming.

Councilor Helen Harris agreed with her colleague Councilor Lorraine Robinson as she provided perspective.

“I feel the same way,” said Councilor Lorraine Robinson. “It’s a city building. It should be under city control for the community to use.”

Councilor Ramona Taylor wanted the Roberta Jackson legacy preserved.

“I would not like it torn down because that is disrespectful to Miss Jackson,” said Taylor. “She gave a tremendous amount to the community and it ought to be run appropriately.”

But before racing to any official decision Mayor Johnson waived the caution flag. The Planning Department would have to recommend the CDBG allotment for the center and council would have to give the nod after that. More funding would be needed for a complete refurbishing. Staffing was also a concern for the Mayor who did not want the building unattended and was adamant about maintaining key control. Johnson thought more funds were needed to completely renovate than could be reaped from the block grant alone.

“I prefer it serve the community,” said Mayor Bill Johnson. “We need $150,000. We need to establish rental rates and a way to collect them. We need to develop a job description and work out evening and weekend supervision for events.”

By John Rech