Plans to restore historic Claflin School building still in limbo

Plans to restore the dilapidated Claflin School building on Fifth Avenue remain in limbo as the group trying to save the structure wrangles with city officials over the details of the project.

The Rev. Richard Jessie, Friends of Historic Claflin's executive director for restoration, circulated a document via email this week stating that a lease agreement drafted by the city made no mention of deeding the facility over to the FHC if the group raised $10 million and restored the historic building.

The Columbus Council "made it clear to all concerned that they would not invest any city resources in restoring or maintaining our school," the document said. "For the city to attempt to control and profit from Claflin by being its landlord is unacceptable to those of us who are working to preserve this great institution."

The building is on the site of the first public school for black children in Columbus. The original structure was built by the Freedmen's Bureau shortly after the Civil War. The city planned to deed the property back to the federal government, but it halted those plans after FHC came forward with a proposal a year ago. Earlier this month, the school was listed among the state's 10 Places in Peril. It's also listed on the Georgia Register of Historic Places.

City Manager Isaiah Hugley said Friday that the city never agreed to deed the property to FHC and is waiting on the organization to provide proof of insurance and 501(c)(3) status before moving forward with plans to enter into a lease agreement.

"First of all, we don't give away property to organizations," he said. "We do work with organizations, and the agreement that I took to City Council (in February) requested that City Council allow me to enter into an agreement with Friends of Historic Claflin Inc. for $1 a year for redevelopment of the Claflin School.

"And there was the understanding that they would redevelop and reuse the site by preserving the architectural significant elements of the building, ensuring compliance with the deed restrictions and honoring the associated African-American history."

Hugley said the city has been trying to enter into the lease agreement with FHC ever since the summer. The agreement would allow FHC to lease the building for $1 per year over a 10-year period. Then each term thereafter, the group would lease it at $1 per year for five years to allow them to continue with redevelopment of the property.

"The lease we've been trying to sign with them, we haven't been able to sign because they've not been able to afford insurance," he said. "We simply cannot give them a right-of-entry to that building until they provide some proof of insurance. Because if they start going in there without insurance and something happens, the city needs to be additionally insured on their insurance policy. And we need to protect the taxpayers' money and interest."

He said the city would have to go through the federal government before deeding the property to any group, and worrying about what would happen to the building after it's developed is like putting the cart before the horse.

"First of all, you have to raise $10.8 million," he said. "And where we are today, we can't afford insurance. So I think we need to get things going and then they can petition council for whatever they would like to see with the building beyond the lease agreement."

Hugley said insurance for the property would cost the group about $10,000 a year. He met with the group in July and agreed to allow members to purchase insurance per quarter instead of annually to reduce the costs, he said. He's been trying to meet with representatives to discuss the issue in preparation for a Dec. 8 Columbus Council meeting where the status, timeline and progress of the project will be discussed.

"Once they do all the things that they are required to do, we are willing and ready to work with them and assist them in using any of our resources to assist them in being successful," he said. "But they have to do those things first so we can move forward."

The document that Jessie circulated Wednesday said FHC already had raised funds to purchase the insurance and the federal government had approved the group's 501(c)(3) application. He said members were just waiting for a confirmation letter from the IRS.

In an interview with the Ledger, he said FHC would purchase the insurance as soon the city develops an agreement the group is comfortable with. He wouldn't say how much money had been raised for insurance so far, but he said it would be irresponsible for the group to launch a major fundraising campaign before the lease agreement with the city is finalized.

"In the language of the deed they have it where we would be renters forever," he said. "We would have to get approval from the city of any potential tenants that we would have in the school; that if we were in any violation of the lease, and would not vacate the premises, we would have to pay the city $1,000 a month lease on the school.

"And we're not interested in the city controlling Claflin or us being a renter forever," Jessie explained. He said the group will meet with Hugley on Wednesday to discuss the issues.

The Freedmen's Bureau deeded Claflin to the city of Columbus public schools in the late 1800s with a stipulation that it always be used for educational purposes.

The property was later deeded over to the Muscogee County School System. The school district declared it surplus property in 2013 and then deeded it back to the city.

Hugley said he told Columbus Council that he would hold FHC to a timeline that was agreed to in February, and he intends to do that.

"The clock is ticking and time is moving on, and we're not getting anywhere, so it's imperative that we meet and have a clear understanding about how this thing is going to move forward," he said. "So, I think this update on Dec. 8 is critical."

Alva James-Johnson, 706-571-8521. Reach her on Facebook at AlvaJamesJohnsonLedger.

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 10:28 PM with the headline "Plans to restore historic Claflin School building still in limbo."