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Mayor got what he deserved with condos
Published Sunday, September 9, 2007
The Natchez bluff condo saga continued last week with another layer of drama added.
Few people should have been surprised by last week’s decision by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to deny a building permit for the condos.
The move was the latest chapter in the drama that began more than two years ago.
Who could blame the MDAH for erring on the side of caution with regard to the condo development?
While the geotechnical concerns raised by a grassroots effort of local residents provide MDAH with a sound reason for slamming the brakes on the project in the short run, perhaps something else is also in play.
Many people involved likely will not discuss “that something else,” at least not publicly.
It may be personal and it may be a little bit of retribution.
Back in February, the City of Natchez, or more precisely, Mayor Phillip West, sent a clear message to the leaders of MDAH: Your authority doesn’t matter in Natchez.
West ordered the former Natchez Pecan Shelling Company building bulldozed without the legally required permit from MDAH.
What’s worse, he did so one day after speaking to the Historic Natchez Conference at which both MDAH Executive Director Hank Holmes and MDAH Historic Preservation Division Director Ken P’Pool were listed as participants.
What a slap in the face that was to the two men and the agency for which they work.
Despite his violating the law, West and the city got off without any significant penalty.
But West’s now infamous bulldozer brigade may be coming back to haunt the city.
So far the only ones potentially injured in the matter are the developers, Worley-Brown LLC, and their hopes of bringing the multi-million dollar facility to downtown.
But if West and the city aren’t careful, their cavalier attitudes toward the MDAH may continue to burn the city and future developments.
What’s going to happen when the next city project needs approval of the MDAH?
Do you think they’ll be forgiving and just forget the hand slapped firmly across their face?
That’s not likely.
West and the city need to realize that throwing their weight around is not only impolite; it can be harmful to future growth, too.
Was anyone else surprised to read that the mayor and city attorney traveled to Jackson — presumably on the taxpayer’s dime — to attend the MDAH meeting over the condo permit?
Unless the supreme court overturns the city’s contract with the developers, the city has no direct interest in the matter any more, at least not that I can see. The city sold the land, illegally demolished the pecan factory building and now should have little more to do with the deal.
For now the city’s arrogance has helped drag out the development plan far longer than was necessary.
So here we sit.
We’ve got a number of people stirred up like a hornet’s nest over the issue.
The developers seem stuck between a rock and a hard place, unable to proceed with their plans and stuck for the moment with a piece of property that cannot be developed.
The likelihood that the developers may just throw up their hands and move on seems to grow with every additional setback.
The developers haven’t said much through the rocky parts of the process other than their continued hope to be able to build the condos.
But the reality is that much has changed since they first proposed the idea back in 2005.
Natchez has changed significantly.
The housing market has changed. And the City of Natchez’s reputation around the state has changed, too.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by skunkworks (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's an idea! Have the developer sell the property to
the MDAH. Then they (the MDAH) can do whatever they fancy well
with the property. Be interesting to see if they can turn a profit in the real world!
Posted by Natchezms (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 1:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You hit the nail on the head! Many things in Natchez have changed significantly - but not the arrogance of the Mayor and his Board of Aldermen. That will likely not change unless the voters send them a message in the upcoming City Elections.
Posted by draworks1 (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good artical Mr. Copper. I think the MDAH should put a value on the Pecan Shelling building and slap the mayor in the face with it. He had no right bulldozing it without going through the proper chanels.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 9, 2007 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe not, but this old saying might be appropriate!
Oh, what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive!
Posted by silly_willy_24_7 (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
if a NORMAL citizen destroyed historic property, would there be any criminal charges? if they would face any criminal charges, why has the mayor not been charged with such a crime? if there should be any criminal charges, does this mean that the mayor is above the law? if the mayor can take a bulldozer to any historic property he chooses, watch out antebellum homes.
Clarification: when I used the term NORMAL above, I simply meant someone not elected to public office, not that the mayor may be suffering from delusions of grandeur.
Posted by JunkyardDawg (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hmmm, so that's the rest of the untold story. Thanks for sharing that, Kevin. I'm beginning to appreciate your articles more each day.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I appreciate Kevin's opinions, as well. He is the shining star of the Natchez Democrat. I am so glad he doesn't have a brown nose with a Cheshire cat grin.
I would pay big bucks to see the look on the mayor's face when the MDAH "slaps him across the face" with a rejection of a prized proposal!!!
Posted by dottie (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a tangled web and it is disgusting. If Natchez is going to survive, this Mayor and his
Board of Aldermans is going to have to go. Are these
people out to make a name for themselves? It sounds
like they have a click going and this never serves
the city well. If you good people pull together,
I have no doubt you can go to the polls and put the
skids beneath them. Has there ever been any talk of
Natchez/Adams going to a Consolidated Gov? It does
offer many advantages for the people as a whole.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 9, 2007 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the Natchez seventeen (17) go to trial, we may find out just how much corruption there is in local politics.
Posted by dfbrown68 (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
silly willy stop being silly. Why would the Mayor want to destroy the antebellum homes? Here you go again Kevin, always finding someone to attack. Looks like anyone that tries to do good for a town the people tear them down. Just like Mayor Melton of Jackson and Circuit Clerk Binky Vines. What's wrong with you Kevin. I guess you already have someone in mind that you would like to run for Mayor next year. Maybe you might run.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In regards to genccull's contribution (smashingly opined) the corruption in local politics will never reach the public until big changes are made at our voting polls and people stop voting for 'kin' or 'friend' just so they can have a job. We have someone who is not afraid to announce the corruption in Mr. Cooper and we should all stand behind him as he 'untangles the web of deceit and corruption'. High five for Mr. Cooper. Keep up the good work.
Posted by CitizenSane (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree. The city of Natchez has been run like a backroom private club for far too long. We all need to wake up and demand accountability at every level of city (and county) government.
I was really surprised that Mr. Vines LOST. Elated, but surprised. I'm sure Mr. Cooper's editorial helped some people realize what was really going on there.
I have no idea why our Attorney General Jim Hood decided not to pursue the criminal charges against Mayor West and the others who were complicit in the illegal destruction of the Pecan Factory. I don't care if the building was or was not an eyesore. They broke the law in a flagrant way.
If this played into the MDAH decision in any way, it would be as incontrvertible evidence that the city and the developers perhaps can't be trusted to follow the simplest instructions (eg., get a demolition permit before you demolish the buiding) so how can they possibly be trusted to follow the complex and expensive construction techniques outlined in Mr. Templeton's/Burns Cooley Dennis engineering report.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 9, 2007 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"the mayor may be suffering from delusions of grandeur"
I wonder if he needs some cheese to go with his whine??
Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on September 9, 2007 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Cooper is on the money here. Mayor West's upraised middle digit to MDAH made it a foregone conclusion that the permit to build the condo would rejected. The mayor's "Ready, Fire, Aim!" approach to conflict resolution is ineffective and has had unfortunate consequences for our city. He challenged the authority of a state agency, and he got humbled. His pride and ego are his undoing, but Natchez ends up paying the price.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Mr. Cooper for standing up for those of us who have no voice.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 9, 2007 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"He challenged the authority of a state agency, and he got humbled."
Oh, I do not know that you can humble someone who has a gigantic ego. It is considered a minor inconvenience.
Posted by Oracle (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 9:20 p.m.
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Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on September 9, 2007 at 9:49 p.m.
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Posted by dfbrown68 (anonymous) on September 9, 2007 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What happen to doing what's best for the people. Mayor West, in my opinion, is doing what he feels is best for the citizens. Don't run him off like yall did Binky. Who wants old buildings standing there as an eyesore, when it can be developed into something else. Most abandoned buildings end up being a place where drug dealers and users start hanging out. We don't want that for our city.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on September 10, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not look at building smaller scaled condos with the design favoring Bontura? A row of 2-storey buildings on that scale would be consistent with the overall look of the city and not a "high-rise". The impact on the bluff would be less.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on September 10, 2007 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kevin, while everything you say about the way the Mayor treated MDAH is correct, you miss the big picture that this development is good for Natchez. The developers after submitting a terrible design worked with the Foundation and produced a plan that conformed with the city codes and design criteria. The Worley Brown group was one of several groups that submitted designs and all the proposals called for the demolition of the pecan factory. A small group has worked to delay and stop this project. They are anti development that downtown and this town needs.
The two year delay has meant that things have changed, building materials have become more expensive and in some areas the condo boom has gone bust. The lower end housing market has also suffered. Natchez though is still enjoying a Katrina boom. Larry Brown and Ed. Worley are still committed to the project yet they have to fight a small group of people at great expense in order to succeed.
The Mayor was at fault (although the Pecan Factory was dangerous and an eyesore) it should not have been demolished the way it was. MDAH should not punish Natchez and private developers for the failings of its elected officials.
The City, MDAH, and Worley/Brown need to work out a solution. A $19,000,000 project is rarely proposed in Natchez and this one will benefit everyone in Natchez by bringing high quality low maintenance housing right downtown. The Democrat is right to blame the Mayor for snubbing MDAH. However the Democrat should support the condo project and work to show that it is a small vocal group who actually oppose its construction. Of course if the anti-development group wins or even loses on the Condo project, they may decide that the Democrat's own planned development should be stopped. This denial could be a thin end of the wedge, let's see if fences could be mended and Natchez development move forward.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on September 10, 2007 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Mayor put the nail in the coffin of this project when he leveled the old Pecan Factory. The small minds that turn the wheels of Natchez will never bring this city forward because they exist in the past. Makes you understand why there will never be peace in the middle east.
Posted by jc2 (anonymous) on September 10, 2007 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'M A CITIZEN OF 49 YEARS AND I HAVE SEEN THE GOOD AND BAD OF MAYORS BUT THIS MAYORS HAS BEEN A LOT FURTHER IN LIFE THEN MOST THAT HAVE SERVED AS MAYOR, SO WHY DON'T WE AS CITIZEN NOT TRY TO TEAR HIM DOWN BECAUSE HE IS BLACK RATHER LIFT HIM UP TO A CHANGING TIMES. HE LEFT A BIGGER STAGE TO COME TO A SMALLER ONE THINK ABOUT IT HE DID NOT NEED THE JOB THE PEOPLE VOTED HIM INTO THE JOB. LETS TRY TO GET THE SELISH OUT OF OUR EYES AND PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN OURS EYES, BESIDES HOW MANY SLAVE DAYS REMINDER DO WE NEED.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on September 10, 2007 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jc2 - I actually think Phillip West has done a good job overall. He though has made some stupid mistakes, and he should have known better.
The city with Mayor West has had a good 3 years, much of it due to Katrina and the relocation of many people from the coast. The growth of Natchez is not just from Katrina, the city has worked to bring new projects to town and some local people have also decided to invest in Natchez.
jc2 he wanted to be Mayor of Natchez as it pays about twice what a state rep makes. It may be smaller job in terms of area and number of voters but it has much more influence.
Posted by c_8512 (anonymous) on September 10, 2007 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i agree with natchez1. i do not think that anyone is accusing the mayor of being TOTALLY incompetent, just that in his zeal to get things done, he has ignored the proper channels. if he had taken his "vision" for the condo deal to the MDAH, and worked WITH them, instead of saying "poo on you this is how it is going to be!", i think that they would have been more receptive to some sort of compromise instead of a flat out refusal. but then there is the board of aldermen, who probably would not cooperate if they were on a sinking ship, with step by step instructions written on the last lifeboat.
lack of cooperation? there seems to be ONE thing they ALL can agree on after all.
Posted by RobinBrownHayes (anonymous) on September 10, 2007 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In my personal opinion I would consider the actions by the mayor, malfeasance in office.
Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on September 10, 2007 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I DONT CALL HOTELS AND CONDOS JOBS FOR PEOPLE.BRING SOME REAL PERMINATE HERE MR.MAYOR.OR YOU WILL BE REPLACED NEXT TIME AROUND.ALL THESE POLITICIANS DO IS LIE,ALL OF THEM.ALL THIS MAYOR CARES ABOUT IS TOURISM AND THE PILGRAMAGE GARDEN CLUB.WHY CANT WE ELECT A MAYOR THAT WILL TELL ALL THOSE OLD BITTYS WHERE THEY CAN GO?
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on September 10, 2007 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Supertrucker, quite frankly any new jobs created is a improvement.
It has been 15 years since a large quantity of new jobs has been created. In those same 15 years most of the industries have left. (And the Garden Clubs were not responsible)
Hank Smith and Phillip West have not cared about tourism, I wish they cared more about it. Promoting tourism as mayor is not popular and anyone who tries to tout tourism is not elected.
The Garden clubs get the blame for lack of progress in Natchez. I think if you looked at other cities without the old biddies tourist industry, those towns would make Natchez look prosperous.
Posted by ZEROTOLERANCE (anonymous) on September 11, 2007 at 12:20 a.m.
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Posted by MamaC (anonymous) on September 11, 2007 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We can't just "HATE" politicians............that would get us no where. We need to vote in good leaders and then support them. As for Mr. West, he needs support and possitive encouragement. He made a mistake and is paying for it. Being from this area, he really should have known better! I think the idea of the two story condo is a good one and maybe go with something more elegant rather than contemporary. - But, I think the first step is for Mayor West to apologize to the MDAH and to Natchez for thinking he could just do things his own way without following the guidelines. Everyone else in town has to follow these, even to paint their houses or make changes, so the Mayor should have to also. The Mayor really needs to humble himself and admit to his mistake and that will be the first step to moving forward. I appreciate Kevin telling the story the way it is, yet we also need to support and pray for those in office. All this negative energy floating around is bad for Natchez as a whole and only causes bitterness and holds up progress. Let's pull together so Natchez can go forward and I hope you all have a Blessed day...........................
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 11, 2007 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"All this negative energy floating around"
Well, maybe it is negative energy or maybe, it is constructive criticism. Whether it is negative energy or constructive criticism, maybe it is in the eye, mind, etc of the beholder.
I agree we need to get pass out differences. However, that is hard for some of us to do when stupid decisions are made by elected officials.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on September 11, 2007 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh no - Supertrucker is back? I thought he quit when Binky was defeated. Please Supertrucker we have heard enough of your stubborn ranting and raving. Leave the good people of Natchez alone. Are you really Binky?
Posted by natchezbum (anonymous) on September 11, 2007 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
didn't bother supertrucker when binky lied! And he needs to get his facts straight. West does not care about tourism. He wants the condos built so he can be given one.
Posted by Modiemas (anonymous) on September 11, 2007 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe Bruce Laird can incorporate this piece of property in with the recreational proposal he is working on.
Posted by SimpleSimon (anonymous) on September 11, 2007 at 8:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, everybody is entitled to an opinion so here is mine. I'll begin with the thing that may not be readily apparent. There is a certain name attached to this project, in this case its the son of, that seems to have come up in several other money making projects in Natchez. This person was involved in selling Natchez a hole in the ground (on which now resides the welcome center), then went on to be involved in selling them the dirt to fill it in, and the prize goes to selling Natchez a certain silo. (Which of course was never inspected until after the purchase and heaven forbid the foundation needed to be repaired) That's it on my beef against the contractors. I was referring to the father not the son but that brings me to the next point...
Okay, so the Mayor was pushing to increase"jobs" (more on that one in a minute) and increase tax revenue by seeming to go along with the laws and then bam ninety degree turn sending out the dozers before anybody could get organized to lay down in front of them. Not that I am a supporter of the "eyesore" cause nobody that I know went down to the bluff and said ooohhh what a pretty old historic building I sure would like to tour that! So now the question is was the Mayor being over zealous or supportive of the Good Ole Boy Network?
I am with all of you that this area needs more jobs. We need them all from busboys at hotels to high dollar factory jobs. However, and I am not knocking anyones vocation, has anyone really tried to make it on waitress pay or a "manager-in-training" at McDonalds? People need more than five dollar an hour jobs. Think about it... Their first hour at work was enough to buy them one gallon of milk!
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on September 11, 2007 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just another power trip by a state agency and a bunch of people who want nothing to change, ever. It's that same group thinking - If they won't help you and they can't hurt you they'll at least stand in your way - and it's the reason so many people either flail in Natchez or have to move away to make a life somewhere in the real world.
Posted by CitizenSane (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone:
Please google the words "loess soil." Learn about the water soluble properties of the soil that our town is built on.
Then, see what you can find online about the Historic Natchez Stabilization project. The $30 M soil nailed wall that was sold to Congress by Lott and Cochran and Mayor Brown as an emergency situation to prevent further loss of life and further destruction of historic property. (The Natchez Bluff is among the oldest undeveloped public spaces in the U.S.).
If you do this, then you will then better understand the Mississippi Department of Archives and History's decision.
Your safety and your lives are too precious to risk to private real estate speculation.
I believe that's the bottom line.
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