An early morning fire damaged the old Magnet Theater at the corner of Fairhope Ave and Church St. last week. According to county records, the building is owned by Fairhope resident Judge James Reid (and others) -- and was valued at $460,000 at its last appraisal.
In 2006, The Historic Preservation Alliance said the building and the nearby Tumble Inn, were under imminent threat of demolition by developers wanting higher value per square foot. The Tumble Inn was demolished in 2005 by owner/developer John Bethea who said in media reports (click) at the time the the building had a faulty foundation. Bethea had earlier indicated little interest in preservation.
The Alliance chastised city residents and political leaders for being unable to unite to provide protection for these historic resources (article at right).
Media reports say the fire started in the Prissy Pots gift shop owned by Fish River area resident Judy Fountain. County records show a state tax lien was placed on the business in 2009.
Last summer, the City Council passed another Resolution (click) supporting a renewed effort to preserve downtown landmarks. Previous efforts have met with minimal success:
 |
| click to enlarge |
The Alliance chastised city residents and political leaders for being unable to unite to provide protection for these historic resources (article at right).
Media reports say the fire started in the Prissy Pots gift shop owned by Fish River area resident Judy Fountain. County records show a state tax lien was placed on the business in 2009.
Last summer, the City Council passed another Resolution (click) supporting a renewed effort to preserve downtown landmarks. Previous efforts have met with minimal success:
News Archives | ||
Edition: Baldwin Register MARC D. ANDERSON Staff Reporter The storm revealed an almost 90-year-old facade that had been hidden from view and after a flood of calls and letters in favor of the old-fashioned look, owners Betty and Ben Barnhill decided to restore the building to its former glory. Whether the Barnhills would have done this without public input is anyone's guess, but the debate reinforced the fact that historic preservation is a hot issue in downtown Fairhope. Anyone taking a leisurely drive or stroll through this nationally recognized town along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay will see numerous construction projects under way, from the two-story offices going up along Section Street, to the recently demolished historic Tumble Inn on Fairhope Avenue to the new public library. Preservationists say the city's quaint architectural identity is at risk, while developers say change is inevitable and sometimes the only option for survival. The biggest issue for some is the loss of Fairhope's unique character as a trend-setting town with progressive roots. Fairhope City Councilwoman Debbie Quinn said she is concerned about the recent building boom in downtown and about its future. "I grew up in Fairhope and it has changed more in the last five years than I ever remember it changing before," Quinn said. END **** Zia, one of the shops in the burned building, held a fire sale Sunday on the sidewalk. | ||
Comments