By Cathy Higgins
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The former Douglasville High School in Bay Minette is one step closer to revitalization.
During its regular meeting Monday, the Bay Minette City Council unanimously passed a resolution stating its unified support of transforming the former Douglasville community building into the Douglasville High School Recreation and Heritage Center.
The resolution was a result of Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery’s explanation of community-based effort to bring the transformation about.
“This project has been ongoing for several months through Project Safe Neighborhood,” she told the board in Monday’s pre-meeting work session.
Tillery said she and fellow project representatives took the proposal to Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Alan Lee last week.
“We needed to make sure the school board is on board,” she said.
According to Bay Minette Police Chief Mike Rowland, the former school, which is still owned by the BOE, had been vacant for several years after its closing. Then Men of Coalition began holding a Job Corp program at the facility.
As previously reported, Project Safe Neighborhood, a Bay Minette Police Department-sponsored community-improvement group, discussed the idea of acquiring a portion of the school property and turning it into a center that would allow a variety of community programs to take place, as well as provide office space for participating non-profit organizations.
During Monday’s meeting, Men of the Coalition presented the council with a list of organizations in support of the project, including PSN, Habitat for Humanity of Baldwin county, Act II and the United Methodist Church.
Rowland also pointed out, Monday, that Douglasville High is in current need of repair. However, the support of the previously mentioned organizations would greatly improve chances of receiving funding to take care of it. A sentiment echoed by Habitat Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator Alex Cary.
“The table is really set,” she said, explaining that Habitat is looking for such projects to fund.
According to Tillery, the next step for the project is for the Baldwin County Board of Education to consider the city’s request to acquire the Douglasville property.
