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March 9, 2010

PACC delivers mixed vote on downtown development

Sherry Koonce The Port Arthur News

PORT ARTHUR —

By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

Port Arthur’s downtown pavilion will get a face-lift, but the police department won’t — at least not on the building’s exterior.

The City Council on Tuesday approved a contract for architectural and engineering design services to renovate the pavilion, but declined to approved exterior renovations to the city’s police and court facility.

Both projects were to be funded with Economic Development Corporation monies under the Operation Downtown Site Improvement Grant Program.

Voters approved a proposition last May allowing the EDC to dedicate $750,000 in sales tax funds annually for the next three years for downtown development projects.

Though EDC Director Floyd Batiste said the proposed projects were allowable under the program, some council members thought government building renovations were not in keeping within the spirit of the downtown renovation.

“I cannot take this leap in good faith. This is not what the intent of the EDC is. I don’t think spending $500,000 on the facade of the police department will get people running downtown,” Morris Albright III, District 3 councilman, said.

John Beard Jr., District 5 councilman, said when the EDC funding was put to voters he worried that interpretations of qualifying projects could become murky.

“This is not a business development. It is a public service and should be carried by tax dollars, not EDC funds,” Beard said.

Albright said he would rather spend the money making the old buildings more attractive to potential downtown developers.

The revamped pavilion will be better covered to add protection from bad weather and have a permanent stage, among other improvements.

The pavilion study vote passed 5-4 with Council members Albright, Beard, Liz Segler, District 2; and D. Kay Wise, Position 7; voting against it.

Facade improvements to the police department failed by a vote of 7-2. Mayor Deloris “Bobbie” Prince and Robert E. Williamson, District 6; voting for the measure.

Batiste said the EDC had put $750,000 of it’s money into the downtown revitalization area and wanted to see something accomplished.

“We wanted to see revitalization; something to start a catalyst and to bring revitalization down here,” Batiste said.

skoonce@panews.com

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