By Trent Moore
The Cullman Times
CULLMAN — After finalizing the purchase of the Greif Brothers property earlier this year for approximately $300,000, the City of Cullman is now soliciting bids to demolish at least three older buildings on the lot.
The 12-acre area, located on Second Avenue in downtown, is currently home to the new city police station.
Once the older buildings are demolished, the space will likely be used for parking and the construction of new buildings in the future.
City officials hope to eventually move other city annexes to the property, including the city garage.
Buildings being eyed for demolition include a large structure and two adjacent buildings at the corner of Elizabeth Street NE and Second Avenue NE, as well as a building on the northwest side of the property. The old Greif Brothers office building, visible from Second Avenue NE, is also being considered.
“We’re doing this because some of those buildings are nearly 70 years old and would just cost too much to renovate,” Cullman Mayor Max Townson said.
Though long-term plans call for additional city annexes to move to the Greif Brothers property, Townson said most city offices will stay put for the time being.
“We’re not going to do any expansions anytime soon,” he said.
In the interim, Townson said the demolition and clean-up work should improve the property’s “curb appeal.”
“We’re just trying to get this done to make it look good out there for the aesthetics,” he said.
The project will likely be funded by a low interest loan from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM).
“The state has some funds and we believe we’ll qualify for a low interest loan for demolition and clean-up,” Townson said.
An estimated cost for the demolition is not yet available, as the city has yet to receive potential bids.
The council also:
* Approved a request to take bids for Rock and Concrete Materials for the Street Department.
* Approved a request to purchase a hood for Fire Department #1 in the amount of $1,500.
* Approved a request to take bids for Water Department Materials.
* Approved permission to host a car procession for Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th, 2009 at 7:15 PM from St. Bernard Monastery to Sacred Heart Church.
* Approved a resolution to support the Cullman Area Mental Health Program, directed by Chris Van Dyke, who wants Cullman Regional Medical Center to support the current approval for mental beds.
* Approved a resolution awarding a bid for Highway 157 Class 160 PVC Waterline Replacement To Apel Machine & Supply in the amount of $583,970, as part of prep work for Royal Technologies.
* Approved an agreement with St. John & Associates to provide professional services related to bidding the removal and relocation of East Cumberland Presbyterian Church Storage Buildings and Modifying the entrance drive into the Royal Technologies plant in the Cullman Industrial Park V- Lot #3, at an estimated cost of $4,200.
* Approved the revised business licenses for 2010.
* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.
