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The Demopolis City Council will be deciding if a developer will be allowed to redevelop the old school on Main Street to restore the building that will keep Canebrake Players in the school but adding 19 high-efficiency apartments in the old school and to build a new complex with up to 20 condominiums. 

During the last two planning commission meetings, the plan has been a central issue. At the June 16 meeting, Mayor Woody Collins introduced developer TJ Maloney, who presented the plan with a PowerPoint presentation to show what they were planning to do with the building.

Collins said the project checked three boxes on his list: it would save the facility, protect Canebrake Players and provide additional housing options for people moving to Demopolis.

“The time is quickly coming that (Canebrake Players) won’t have a home,” Collins said of the current condition of the building.

Plans to renovate old school

Maloney, who is with Lathan Development, said they have been working on the plan over the year. He said the proposed agreement with the city would force the owners to keep up all facets of the building or the city would have the option to buy back the building at a “reasonable” price.

He showed several projects where they had redeveloped other properties around the state and then unveiled plans to install 19-single family market rate apartments. Eighth will be efficiency units with 250 to 350 square feet of space with no bathrooms in the apartments. Four one-bedroom, one-bathroom units will also be available between 250-450 square feet. The remaining seven units will be the size of a classroom that will have one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments with laundry hookups with a size of 450 to 750 square feet.

They would sign a 99-year lease with the City of Demopolis to allow the city to have public use of the auditorium, balcony, basement and public restrooms. The access to the housing units would be separate from the auditorium area.

20 additional condominiums

The second phase of the project would build up to 20 additional condominiums on the rear of the property. The new building would have to complement the existing school that is currently being proposed as three-bedroom, two-bathroom units. There is no timeline yet for the second phase or what the final version would look like.

That second phase has been what has caused issues with some residents. At the July planning commission meeting, several residents voiced concerns about the traffic and other issues with the additional development.

The request was to zone the property located at 601 South Main Street from R-2 single family to R-4 multifamily. The discussion from that meeting resulted in a 4-4 tie vote from the planning commission. 

Community concerns

Jennifer Roeman with the Canebrake Players said she was grateful for the city allowing them to use the building, but she is concerned that the second phase might cause issues for them holding performances at the auditorium.

“We have tried to take care and be a good steward of the building, as we’ve been allowed to use it,” Roeman said. “I’m afraid that our patrons might not be able to come if they have to park way down the street. They might not be able to come back up here.

“I feel like maybe this is an opportunity for our city to embrace the arts and help bring it up to a next level — much like the Sportsplex is — to help the arts department.”

Another resident was concerned about how the parking situation would be affected by having this development. The plans call for around 20 apartments to be housed in the old school building. He was concerned that the parking would spill onto South Main Street, especially during performances.

Council meeting

The city council will be decide that during its regular meeting Thursday at 5:15 p.m. The council’s work session starts at 4 p.m.

If the property is rezoned, Maloney said he is aware that he’d need a subdivision permit to develop the condominiums, but they would be ready to move forward with the redevelopment.