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The Architectural Review Board today allowed the Alabama School of Math and Science a 120 day financial hardship extension today for a fence they erected in violation of historic guidelines.
The fence surrounds the student parking lot and needs to be transparent in order to maintain the effectiveness of safety equipment, mainly security cameras.
Bebe Lindsay, development director for the school located at the intersection of Ann and Dauphin Streets requested the extension in order to maintain the safety of the school’s students and because of recent budget cuts from the State of Alabama.
In the past two years the school has received a total of $1.3 million in budget cuts from the state. Recently staff fell subject to nine percent salary cuts, according to Lindsay. All employees will be subject to a week of furloughs and some positions at the school have been downgraded or eliminated, she added.
The Alabama School of Math and Science, formerly Dauphin Way Baptist Church, is partly funded through donations from the school’s foundation, which is also charged with maintenance of the school and is listed as the lessee for the property.
The only Old Dauphin Way Historic District resident to voice opposition to the board’s approval, Francis Hoffman, said the foundation has plenty of money and sought to differentiate the foundations funding from the school’s funding. After reviewing the foundation;s financial records Hoffman said she felt there was plenty off money to fix the school’s fence.
Lindsay countered Hoffman’s claim, noting the foundation’s funds are earmarked, a fact District 2 councilman William Carroll confirmed.
Carroll testified to the fact that he had held conversations with ASMS officials and believes the school is experiencing “tremendous hardship.” Carroll also voiced his opinion that it’s important that the school be given the proper amount of time to fix the situation.
“They’re here because they want to be a partner,” Carroll said.
Estimates for a new fence that would conform to historic guidelines have ranged from $181,000 to upwards of $200,000, according to school officials.
The approval of the Financial Hardship application comes with the stipulation that in 120 days the school will return with plans to fix the fence. If they do not do so, they will be forced to file for another 120 day Financial Hardship application.
When ARB members cited the need for more communication with the Old Dauphin Way Historic Committee, Carroll offered to set up a meeting. As of deadline there is no set time or location for the meeting.
Lindsay said the school’s staff will be expecting more cuts in 2010, but remained hopeful that at the end of the 120-day period they would have a suitable resolution.
jgbrules says:
December 23, 2009
03:43 PM
a true liberal you are monkey fish. your living in mobile alabama. it is what it is. grow up and smell the projects!!
monkeyfish says:
December 09, 2009
01:05 PM
I have to say that although there is a great need for improvement with the ARB and MHDC staff and their communication and cooperation with property owners in the historic districts, I don't think that they are "bad people," like the previous two posts. I also don't think that William Carroll is a bad person. They all may need a little ego deflating at times, maybe, but I am a property owner in the ODHD, and BOTH the ARB and Councilman Carroll were very helpful to me in making improvements to my property. Let's try not to focus on the bad all the time, kids. It's the holidays, and it's bad for your blood pressure. Honey, not vinegar......remember what your Mama told you???
jgbrules says:
December 01, 2009
09:31 PM
AMEN BROTHER BILLY BOB!! carrol is about as arrogant as it gets. this is all politics for the next election. on the other hand, i see our local KGB/gestapo, otherwise know as the ARB is at it again. devereau (adolf hitler) bemis wont leave the school alone will he?? to mr. bemis and all his loyal comrades at the ARB, now hear this: ITS A FENCE YOU IDIOTS. TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN WHEN THEY GO TO THERE VEHICLES. ITS NOT LIKE THEY BUILT A TACO BELL ON HISTORIC GOVERMENT STREET. OH WAIT, SOMEONE DID THAT!! OOPS!! DID YOU GET YER PAYOFF FROM CORPORATE ON THAT MR. BEMIS?? I DONT SEE YOU HARRASSING ALL THE HISTORIC BUSSINESSES ON GOVERNMENT STREET THAT STICK OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB, SUCH AS, WALGREENS, CVS, WENDYS, DOMINOS, BURGER KING, ECT, ECT, ECT,ECT. ALL THOSE BULDINGS FALL WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF THE ARB MR.BEMIS?? SO HISTORIC THEY ARE!! A GIGANTIC NEON SIGN JUST POURS OUT HISTORICNESS. THE CITY'S FOUNDING FATHERS JUST LOVED .99 JR.WHOPPER!! OH BY THE WAY MR.BEMIS, DID YOU EVER FIND THAT 250K THAT MARRILYN CULPEPPER MISPLACED?????? I BET THAT WOULD PAY FOR A NICE FENCE HUH? LET ME SAY THIS IN CLOSING, THE ARB HAS WAY WAY WAY TOO MUCH POWER. THESE MORONS NEED TO BE SPAYED AND NUTERED.THIS IS A BAD DISSERVICE TO OUR CHILDREN, AND THE ARB HAS SLAPPED THEM DOWN. I GUESS WHEN THE ARB STARTS FLYSPECKING OUR GREAT MAYORS HOUSE, THEN MABEY SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.
billybob says:
December 01, 2009
09:45 AM
If this were an individual, Carroll would walk the other way. Gonna be a long 4 years!!