Earlier K-1 Building Proposal Resurrected

Fairhope, Alabama 

 

Small business incubator plan.


 

SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR 'HATCH'

An unsuccessful  effort to secure a $6.1 million federal grant two years ago to purchase and then convert most of the old K-1 building into an incubator for small technology businesses (called HATCH) got new life as the city council gave its preliminary approval to re-applying to the federal Economic Development Administration.

HATCH has been operating in the BBVA bank on Section Street (2nd floor) for several years but needs more space.

Lee Lawson of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance said the new $3.1 million grant should become available when disaster recovery money is approved by Congress later this year; but the application should be made ready so the city is "first in line" since competition is only within the disaster areas (Sally, Zeta).

A 20% match ($625K) will be required from the city for the grant to refurbish the 35K square foot central building as the business incubator; any extra space could be used by co-tenants Coastal Community College and USA.

Job creation in disaster affected area is the purpose of the grant, Lawson said.

  

AUDITORIUM AND "OUT" BUILDINGS NOT INCLUDED

The auditorium/gymnasium in the main building and four out-buildings would not be included and could be used for other purposes by the city such as performing arts or other needs, Lawson said.

A seven year "look-back" period would apply according to Lawson; after that the city could do anything it wanted with the entire property.

A resolution to apply for the grant was to be prepared for a future council meeting.



Lee Lawson


Comments

Anonymous said…
We need parking downtown that helps generate sales tax revenue not another project .
Anonymous said…
Name a successful business that ever came from Hatch?


Waste of space
Anonymous said…
Thought they were going to ask the citizens what we wanted to do with it before decidng.
Anonymous said…
I think they ought to move the museum there. It needs more space.
Anonymous said…
HATCH already has a building they are using and honestly they're not going to create any significant tech companies. What tech person even wants to come here? Think about it...we're against solar and wind. Don't believe me talk to Baldwin EMC. They charge you more than the solar or wind saves you because of their installation and reverse charge fees. Our state now charges you $200 more a year for car tags if its EV. Good luck finding a charging station. Heck my cellphone don't even work in half the city. Sound like a tech paradise to you?

The city can't take care of what it has now so we don't need more to maintain. Please try to clean the rec center you already own that leaks and is filthy.
Tin Man said…
A good spot for more million dollar "cottages?"
Anonymous said…
Does anyone really think tech companies are coming to Fairhope AL?
Anonymous said…
The Hatch has to be involved in order to get the grant.
Anonymous said…
In my opinion, this is another wasted opportunity by the City of Fairhope. There have been many in recent months such as the denial of the boutique hotel, the future denial of the working waterfront project, etc. The city continues to pump money into the airport that is not returning a significant return on investment and also subsidize Coastal Community College and USA. And, as mentioned above the HATCH program is not going to produce high earning tech jobs in Fairhope. This is someone's pet project that sounds good on paper but is not realistic. We need leaders with vision and not politicians concerned with getting reelected. I'm hopeful that Mayor Sullivan will be our new leader with the vision to make Fairhope a location that is economically vibrant. I can say with a lot of certainty that the majority of the citizens of Fairhope want the Central Business District to thrive with new restaurants, shops, brewpubs, etc. Noone wants to drive outside of fairhope for social activities. Considering moving City Hall to the K-1 Center and selling the City Hall to a private developer who will turn that area into a mixed use (restaurants, condos, shops, etc.). The K-1 Center is not on the main drag and would be a better place for City Hall.
Anonymous said…
Saving the historic old building is the priority here.
Anonymous said…
The 'historic old building' is a dump. Level it and build something attractive. The existing building is a money pit and can't date back further than the 1950's.
Anonymous said…
Fyi The old part was built in 1927.
Anonymous said…
Theres room for anothe rparking garage behind there. Make this one big enoughfor pick ups.
Anonymous said…
I am on the fence about Hatch. Anytime a substantial grant is floating around I think there are compelling reasons to seriously consider applying for it. If we get $3,000,000 +/- and have to invest $750,000. - that is a lot of value added. After the 7 year look back the property or part of it can even be sold. I sense it is a reasonable investment with an out if the programs don’t produce.

There has not been much publicity about the airport finances recently . I do know it has also received grants and that the hangars charge rent and revert back to the city after twenty something years so there is a lot of future value in the physical plant. I guess the note is what is costing so much but you have some big value there. Is it possible to privatize the airport ? I could not use it but it might be very good to have an airport as the area continues to grow.
Anonymous said…
If saving historic buildings was actually a priority, there would not have been so many of them torn down.
Fairhope needs to see a psychiatrist about their strange attachment to an old, sick building that is another money pit.
Anonymous said…
The building should have never been purchased as those funds could have easily paid for the entire sewer rebuild phase one project.It was a complete misappropriation of funds.I say sell it to refund,to the city infrastructure.
Wise Guy 2 said…
The value there is in the land. the old building is virtually worthless. The land alone is worth the the 4 million.
Anonymous said…
Wise Guy 2 is probably correct; however, why are we putting so much 'lipstick on the pig' (new roof, etc and many other repairs approved by the City Council). It appears to some of us that the Council are 'creating' jobs for their friends when it appears that there is no way the existing building can be utilized for anything attractive. It needs a bulldozer.