Demolition on the 60-year-old Mobile Civic Center is expected to begin on Aug. 15. (Photo courtesy of the Mobile Civic Center)
By ARTHUR L. MACK
MOBILE— The Mobile City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $4.5 million contract with Sabra Demolition Corp. to tear down the Mobile Civic Center and Expo Hall.
The vote gave the green light to demolish the 60-year-old structure, which is scheduled to begin on Aug. 15, and make way for a new facility.
The base bid for the project was $2.367 million while an additional $1 million was allotted for removing a mural. Another $1 million was for a contingency allowance covering the costs of materials, labor, overhead, profit and other expenses.
Councilmember Josh Woods, who initially opposed tearing down the Civic Center, said he voted for demolition after getting a clearer picture of the project.
“I had originally voted no because of the bricks falling off the theater and I didn’t want to spend anything before I knew what we needed to do,” he said. “Right now, I feel comfortable in the direction that we’re moving in. Obviously, we’ve seen the budget and how we’re talking about how we’re going to pay for this thing.
“I’m seeing the dollars coming around and with 60 percent as far as design, the numbers are working, so that’s what my main concern was. The mayor made a commitment for $300 million (for the new Civic Center). Right now, everything is looking good and they’re on track in a lot of areas. Hopefully, they can stay that way.”
Local activist Reggie Hill told the council the Civic Center should not be torn down based on an Alabama law prohibiting historical structures from being torn down. But Councilmember William Carroll said since the Civic Center is not a named building and not at least 75 years old, it would not apply under the law. He added buildings are demolished every day with no code applying to them.
The law pertaining to protection of historic landmarks includes not only the first opening and first use of said building/s, but also to the start of the design process; which in the case of the Mobile Municipal Auditorium began about ten years prior around 1951-1953, more than 70 years prior. That being said, Carroll is wrong and not fit for public service.
If Stimpson, Barber and Mobile City Council members did not or refused to allow Mobile citizens in their role as taxpayers their right to vote on the usage of the municipal property upon which the current buildings sit, there may be broad-reaching legal problems in the not too distant future for city council that could bring construction to a halt at some point. Disenfranchisement of any sort for profit is a crime.
Further, Oak View Group stated that the entire property and buildings were absolutely repairable, and for less cost to the city’s taxpayers. That being said, it appears that Mobile’s illegitimate mayor is hell-bent and determined to destroy a historic landmark; and it sounds vindictive, like he is actively pursuing a vendetta against someone who probably snub him at some point in his life.
Looking forward to Mobile’s illegitimate mayor being forced to look out his window, whether at his current job or home or a nursing home or jail cell, to see within his purview the newly built Golden Dome as a gentle reminder of his willfull destruction of an historic landmark (also illegal), his stupidity and his loss.
By all means, share this with Mobile’s citizens and City Council. They need to know. It is what it is. Thank you.
Have a nice day,
Tina Wright, Mgr.
Actually, Mr. Carroll suggested the idea about the Alabama Monuments Preservation Act. Nonetheless, is Mobile Civic Center or Mobile Municipal Auditorium not the name of a building? What’s the Mobile Museum of Art then? Is that not a name?
As well, the Code of Alabama (1975) 41-9-232(a) deems structures 40 years or older to be preserved. Not 75 years, as attested by Mr. Carroll.
Further, my petition before the [reported] Mobile City Council was primarily in regards to the City of Mobile violating Sec. 44-80 of the Mobile City Code which requires completed sight plans and proof of funding for demolition projects in the Historic District. The City of Mobile has not provided either yet!