City manager to Liberty District stakeholders, ‘I’m not here to fight with you”

City manager Isaiah Hugley reopened talks about the Liberty District’s future on Tuesday, stressing the importance of the community working together around a common purpose.

Hugley made the comments at a public meeting organized by the city to reconvene stakeholders and develop a vision for the area. During his introductory remarks, he referred to a controversy that erupted in 2013 when the Columbus Public Housing Authority planned to build apartments around the historic Liberty Theatre as part of a Booker T. Washington Apartments redevelopment project.

A group of concerned citizens, led by Muscogee County Tax Commissioner Lula Huff, opposed that plan, arguing that the project was too dense and that the focus should be on developing a commercial, entertainment and recreational area. At the center of the firestorm was a 2003 Liberty District Master Plan that called for a “champion” to promote the revitalization plans, which never materialized.

On Tuesday, Huff — whose family owns property in the district — attended the meeting with other relatives. Also present were Councilors Judy Thomas, Skip Henderson, Evelyn “Mimi” Woodson, Bruce Huff and State Rep. Carolyn Hugley, the city manager’s wife.

Huff, who sat quietly, told the Ledger-Enquirer she had no comment after the meeting.

Addressing the 2013 controversy, Hugley said he moved on to a City Village redevelopment project after the Housing Authority’s plans were aborted. He said that project has made significant strides, and he hopes to do the same for the Liberty District.

“I think there’s a lack of progress in the Liberty District because we have not been able to come together,” he said. “I told staff that I would not be coming here tonight looking for a fight. Anybody came to fight, I’m not here to fight with you. You need to take that fight and find somebody else to fight with.”

Hugley said there has been a cooldown period since 2013, and his goal is to bring people together to revitalize the area. He said the city plans to create a Liberty District Committee similar to one in City Village to lead out in redeveloping the area with the help a consultant. He shared his vision for the area, and asked stakeholders for their input. He also asked the group to choose between moving forward with the 2003 master plan, tweaking that plan, or developing a whole new plan based on other development that has occurred in recent years.

“... I’m looking at Uptown and how it’s redeveloped and thriving,” he said. “I’m looking at Midtown and what they’ve done. I’m looking at the panhandle and what they’ve been able to do, the north side of town and what they’ve been able to do. And now we’re working on City Village. It’s time for us in the Liberty District to come together, no fights, and make it happen.”

But Nadine Moore, one of the concerned citizens who opposed the Housing Authority housing project, disagreed with Hugley’s recollection of the 2013 controversy.

“Mr. City Manager let me just say something,” she said. “There wasn’t a fight. All we asked is that you appoint a champion. If you had appointed a champion, it could’ve been done.”

“... That’s your opinion,” said Hugley. And as Moore continued to push the issue, he said: “You see, I didn’t come here for this. ... We need a champion, but we need to work together.”

Following that brief exchange, City Planning Director Rick Jones gave a PowerPoint presentation, highlighting the district’s historical significance as a thriving cultural, business and entertainment center for Columbus’ black community.

“We know the Liberty Theatre itself is still there; it’s still functioning, still operating, and that’s a great thing,” he said. “How we build on that is what’s in question. We want to make sure we provide that sense of identity, and pride, and confidence back in this area itself.”

Jones said the city plans to provide incentives for rehabilitation, rezone designated areas for appropriate uses, and encourage private investment in the district. He also updated the group on the current Liberty District Master Plan.

City Community Reinvestment Director Laura Johnson showed a map of all the property the city owns in the area. And Deputy City Manager Pam Hodge highlighted $66 million the city has invested in the area since 2000 for property acquisition, flood abatement, streetscapes, building renovations and other projects.

She said there was $5 million designated for the Liberty District in the 1999 Special Local Option Tax, and $950,000 remains.

Hugley said he envisions the Liberty District becoming a replica of Uptown with mixed-use development to include entertainment, multifamily housing, and nice restaurants like The Loft. He would like to create a connection between the district and Uptown so people can walk to and from the two areas for dinning and concerts, he said.

After presenting his ideas, he asked people in the audience to share their visions for the area.

“I have lived in the district for 47 years, and the way y’all talking y’all leaving us out,” said one woman who wouldn’t give her name to the Ledger-Enquirer. “You want to put businesses, you don’t want no one living in there. Where we supposed to fit in this plan?”

Hugley said the area would include affordable housing, some of which has already been developed by the Housing Authority.

“... We have people living, working, doing everything in Uptown,” he said. “We can do that same think in the Liberty District.”

Phyllis Jones, of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., which has plans for an event center in the Liberty District, also attended the meeting. She asked how long it would take to revitalize the area since the city seems to be starting over with the master plan process.

“That was why I said we’ve got to all work together,” Hugley said. “Because if we’re all over the place and not working together, we’re not going to make the kind of progress we need to make.”

The Rev. Adrian Chester, pastor of Greater Beallwood Baptist Church, said he doesn’t live in the district or own property there. He said he’s just a concerned citizen who wants to know what the city plans to do about run-down apartment buildings in the area.

Hugley said the city has purchased some dilapidated properties and demolished them. He said he would like to see multifamily developments in the district similar to some in Uptown, such as Eagle and Phenix and the The Rapids at Riverfront Place being built by W.C. Bradley Co.

Yet, there should be housing to accommodate people of all income levels, Hugley said.

“We’re not trying to push anybody out,” he said. “We want it to be all-inclusive.”

Chester stressed the importance of preserving the Liberty District’s black flavor and heritage.

“... We have to be intentional that whoever the champions are aren’t trying to make the Liberty ‘Uptown No. 2,’ ” he said.

This story was originally published May 31, 2017 at 12:45 PM with the headline "City manager to Liberty District stakeholders, ‘I’m not here to fight with you”."