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By James Phillips

The future of the old school in Demopolis is still in question after Thursday’s city council meeting, but one question answered is that the property will not be rezoned and transformed into apartments. 

An ordinance to rezone the property on 601 South Main failed to pass after a 3-3 vote. Voting in favor of the rezoning were Mayor Woody Collins, Charles Jones Jr. and Bill Meador. Voting against were David McCants, Nathan Hardy and Jim Stanford.

Before the vote, Jones discussed two RFPs (request for proposals) concerning the property that had been turned into the city since the Oct. 4 council meeting. 

Jones, who led the committee that oversaw the proposals, reported one from Mobile-based Lathan Developers and the other from the Marengo County Historical Society and Two Rivers Arts Council. 

The Lathan proposal would have seen the city sell the property with the 100-year-old facility being turned into apartments and using adjacent property for the construction of condos, while the MCHS and TRAC proposal called for the city to retain ownership and grants be used to preserve the historical building. 

“The criteria was in such a way that one group came close, but they did not meet all areas,” Jones said. “We were working with a short window. Both have merit and both needed improvement. Both were lacking in proof of sufficient funds.”

The committee report did not recommend either RFP, but did say the Lathan proposal did meet 90 percent of the criteria. 

The council also voted 4-2 against putting the old school into surplus. 

“Even though the council did not rezone or surplus the old school, everyone needs to know this property needs some attention. It does not need to go on the back burner,” Jones said during council member comments. “This property is a drain on the city. I want to see it sustainable. I don’t mind the city putting up a little bit of money to help keep it but something needs to happen. If it’s to survive and move forward, we need to rally the troops and come up with a plan.”