NATCHEZ &045; A small community was formed in Natchez Saturday morning &045; a group of people opposed to the tearing down of the former Natchez Pecan Factory and the erecting of a proposed condo development on the blufftop site.

At 7 a.m., several people had already lined up in front of the site on Broadway Street, one with a sign calling for the recall of Mayor Phillip West.

&uot;We’re out here for the duration,&uot; protester Mike Willey said.

West, on Friday, said the city will tear down the building despite the Department of Archives and History’s statement that, under state law, it has the right to review the site to see if it qualifies as a state historic landmark.

If it does qualify as such a landmark, Archives and History would have the right to OK plans for any development on the site, department Historic Preservation Director Ken P’Pool said last week.

Preservationists and locals have said the $19 million condo development Ed Worley and Larry L. Brown Jr. of Natchez propose for the site &045; with more than 53 units, standing five stories tall &045; doesn’t fit in with the character of the surrounding buildings and isn’t in keeping with Natchez’s preservation ordinance or design guidelines.

But city officials have said that such a development, which they’ve said could bring in about $300,000 in extra tax revenue a year, is needed to help boost Natchez’s struggling economy and act as a catalyst for further development along the riverfront.

But those who assembled in front of the building Saturday weren’t buying it.

They said they’ll take shifts for as long as necessary in front of the building until the city abandons its plans to tear the building down &045; something some city workers said had been planned for Saturday.

Douglas Scharmann, who moved from Los Angeles to Natchez, said he’s upset by the plans because he moved to Natchez, in large part, because of its commitment to historic preservation.

&uot;Natchez is a historic jewel of a town,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s got a unique history, and yet it’s a livable city.&uot;

With a strong commitment to preservation now and in the future, Natchez could build on its already strong tourism industry even more, growing its economy further, he said.

Casey Hughes said she also moved to Natchez in Maryland in 1997 due to its preservation commitment.

&uot;I picked Natchez as the perfect town, and a top priority was historic preservation and maintenance of historic structures,&uot; she said. &uot;And there are people all over the country who come here because they love that environment.&uot;

Paris Winn moved to Natchez because &uot;because of its charm, which it’s known for all over the world Š and this would ruin Natchez’s charm.

&uot;There needs to be development. I believe that. But if we don’t plan it correctly, we lose what we have here.&uot;

Eric Speas said that if the building is torn down, condos aren’t the way to go.

&uot;The city needs more green spaces,&uot; Speas said.

&uot;It could easily be turned into a recreation area. Š And we need some buffer to keep from happening here what’s happening, or going to happen, on the coast when they build condos there,” he added.

&uot;It’s public land, and it ought to be for the use of the public,&uot; Rena Jean Schmeig, one of more than a dozen protesters by 8 a.m., said.

Many of those at the building Saturday said they are angry city officials apparently didn’t follow the law in saying they would tear down the building regardless of the Department of Archives and History.

&uot;I voted for Mayor West, Š but I’m beginning to feel he can’t be trusted to hold the best interest of the people at heart. I want someone who believes in the rule of law,&uot; Willey said.