For the past five months, Signal Mountain Town Council members have been debating the best solution to save the Mountain Arts Community Center’s programs.
But officials say if residents don’t start speaking up now, the historic building which currently houses the programs – the former Signal Mountain Elementary/Grammar School – could soon be gone forever.
Though Town Council members have not yet made a decision in regards to the MACC’s future, Mayor Dick Gee said with little public outcry to save the historic building, the final decision could hinge primarily on what the cost of new construction would be, meaning all plans to save the 90-year-old building could be abandoned.
The council is considering three options. The first, to restore and upgrade the original building to make it suitable for the public, has been estimated at $2.7 million. The council is awaiting cost estimates for the second and third options: to build a new 12,000-square-foot facility to house the MACC’s programs, or to renovate the current Town Hall for MACC activities and build a new town hall.
If the cost for option two or three falls within a reasonable price range, the MACC programs could be relocated. The council would then have to consider alternative options for the former school building itself. Officials have speculated such options could range from turning the building into a historic preservation project – which would still require paying demolition costs to tear down the newer back portion and yearly fees for maintenance of the historic portion – to selling the property to a developer.
“People have a misnomer that because it’s on the National Historic Register that it is being protected from being demolished or destroyed, and that’s not true,” said MACC Director Barb Storm. “Being on the register indicates that you have a wish to keep it from being destroyed, but that doesn’t mean that the town as an owner has an obligation to not destroy it.”
While Gee stressed that the council is not approaching the issue with the intent of shutting the building down and said he has no desire to see the town’s oldest public building destroyed, so far, not enough supporters have come forward to let the council know they care about preserving the grammar school.
“I think there is a group of folks out there that don’t necessarily use the building but have such a nostalgic and sentimental feeling for that building that the demolition of that building would be considered a substantial loss to the life of the community,” Gee said. “[But] I can’t quantify that. I don’t know if it’s one person or if it’s twelve people. I just don’t have any clue.”
Storm said she believes there are locals who want to keep the school standing, referencing the 300 alumni living in and around the mountain, many of whom she said still have an affinity for the building.
During the September Town Council meeting, a petition was presented by the MACC Patrons, the fundraising arm of the community center, which is currently awaiting certification as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Member Lolly Durant presented a petition with 174 signatures to show that mountain residents want to keep the grammar school standing.
“I think the town council just needs to hear from the community,” Durant said.
Storm said just signing a petition will not be enough.
“I think if citizens are interested in letting the council know what they think, they’re going to need to actually directly contact the council,” Storm said.
Gee agreed.
“If it’s more attractive financially to do something else, that may determine what route we go, unless people fill this room and say ‘No you’re not.’
“If you don’t like it,” said Gee, “I need to hear from you.”
Officials have received estimates for the cost of new construction and will continue to discuss options during the next work session meeting in late October.
Email Myron Madden at mmadden@timesfreepress.com