The city is moving forward with plans to demolish two buildings that sit at the corner of Main Street and Front Street, and the removal of those properties could leave a hole in the middle of the city’s commercial center.
The city voted unanimously this summer to adjudicate the buildings that sit at 101 and 103 Main Street, which are both currently owned by the Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance Counseling Services Inc.
The buildings sit right next to Delta Diamonds, and are across from several retail businesses on Front and Main, including Turner’s Downtown Market, Goldberg’s and Indianola Floral Design.
During the June meeting when the board voted to demolish the buildings, Indianola City Inspector Elvis Pernell described a disintegrated floor at 101 Main Street that has resulted in an estimated drop off of 15 to 20 feet, creating a public safety hazard.
He also said that when it rains, the basement holds water.
“It’s impossible to repair it,” Pernell said.
At the time the city voted to adjudicate the buildings, the Ministerial Alliance owned just one of the properties, 101 Main Street, and Guaranty Bank owned the other.
Guaranty Bank confirmed the organization acquired the deed to 103 Main Street earlier this month.
On Sept. 20, the Ministerial Alliance retained Brown & Associates as the “planning and redevelopment expert” to assist the organization in its planning, Dr. Adrian Brown of Brown & Associates told The E-T.
“The Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance Counseling Services, Inc. is currently in the process of going through a planning process which focuses on the development or redevelopment of downtown properties,” Brown said. “This process entails the careful consideration of design guidelines. Design guidelines help strengthen the character of the built environment and enhance property values by improving the quality of development and by making downtown a more desirable place to live, work and socialize. Design guidelines help preserve a cohesive character and also help clarify the organization’s expectations for this project.”
Brown said the properties could be used to stimulate more downtown growth and development, and he said he is hoping to get a stay of demolition from the city.
“The planning process will focus on creating a vibrant, walkable neighborhood that can help attract and retain talented people,” Brown said. “The project also will focus on the creation and sustain a culture of engagement. Lastly, the Board of Directors of the Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance, Inc.’s main objective with this project is to celebrate Indianola’s unique history, create new opportunities for long-term and sustainable neighborhood mixed use development, and to achieve the triple-bottom line of a more equitable community, stronger economy, and protected environment.”
Indianola Mayor Steve Rosenthal said the change in ownership itself does not affect the adjudication process.
Unless the Indianola Board of Aldermen vote on a stay of demolition, the city will proceed as planned.
Rosenthal said the city has received a low bid of around $15,000 to demolish the buildings, but that bid does not include the cost of the dirt required to fill in the basement, which serves both buildings.
“I hate to tear it down, because I love our old buildings,” Rosenthal told The E-T last week.
Rosenthal said the city plans to leave the hole on the property and will construct a fence around the pit for aesthetic purposes.
Brown said he is not in favor of the city’s current plan.
“Being a planning and development specialist, I would strongly object to this initial plan by the City of Indianola until the Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance Counseling Services, Inc. completes its planning process,” Brown said. “The goal of the planning process is to allow the organization to consider all relevant factors such as historic significance of the buildings, planning unit development, financing and cost, timeframes, mixed use development, etc. To destroy a building and to leave a hole in the middle of downtown with a fence around it in my opinion may create more safety hazards for local downtown pedestrians.”
Brown said since the Ministerial Alliance now owns both buildings, he believes the city and the organization should meet to discuss options for redevelopment.
“Both sides have to talk and work together and when this is done, everyone wins,” Brown said. “I believe when the City of Indianola placed (one of the properties on the adjudication list) there were no conversations between the City of Indianola and the Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance Counseling Services, Inc. as to the planned development of this property. Since the organization now owns both properties which are adjoined, there needs to be updated conversations concerning the planning process and the respective results as to the future planned use of both properties.”
If the city does move forward, Rosenthal said that a lien would be placed on the property and that the Ministerial Alliance would be on the hook for demolition costs, the fence and a 50 percent penalty on top of that, which could amount to over $20,000.
The Ministerial Alliance would also assume all liability related to the property. In the even that someone is injured on the property after the demolition, Rosenthal said the city would not be responsible.
“They will have the liability,” Rosenthal said.
Sam Rosenthal, a real estate developer and owner of several downtown properties addressed the buildings’ impending doom in a letter to the editor in last week’s edition of The E-T.
Sam Rosenthal believes demolishing the buildings would be a mistake and could hinder commercial activity and sales tax revenue downtown.
“Being a developer and landlord in downtown Indianola, I can attest to the fact that there is a demand for rental property in the area,” Sam Rosenthal said in his letter. “I fear that if this building is destroyed, we will all lose. The city will not be able to collect any property taxes on this building, whereas alternatively, the building could house up three businesses with potential for additional ad valorem and sales taxes. The only thing that will be accomplished will be yet another empty lot or parking lot to detract from the beauty and viability of our downtown historic district.”
