Proposed Re-Zoning from Residential to Heavy Industrial in Historic Africatown Concerns Residents

12/19/14 UPDATE: After considerable outrage, the Mobile Planning Commission voted 8-1 to deny the re-zoning permit. Given that the Mobile Planning Commission’s Subcommittee on Above Ground Storage Tanks is considering proximity to Residential-zoned property a zoning barrier, preventing this piece of Residential property from eroding a potential buffer around the Africatown community by being re-zoned is a victory for Africatown.

— MEDIA ADVISORY—

Press Contact:
Joél Lewis, President, Africatown Community Development Corporation, 251-648-3441
Teresa Fox-Bettis, Executive Director, Center for Fair Housing, 251-479-1532

Proposed Re-Zoning from Residential to Heavy Industrial in Historic Africatown Concerns Residents
Yorktown Missionary Baptist Church Hosts Community Meeting with Developer, Councilman Manzie

On Tuesday, December 16 at 6:00 PM at Yorktown Missionary Baptist Church, residents of the Historic Africatown/Plateau neighborhood will meet to discuss their concerns about Bean Properties, LLC’s proposed re-zoning of a Residential (R-1) property to Heavy Industry (I-2). Bob Collins, the sole proprietor of Bean Properties, LLC, has indicated in permit applications intentions to clear and pave most of the currently wooded fields of the 17.7 acre pair of lots immediately across the Papermill Road from the old IP site, which many residents suspect is contaminated and in need of remediation. These plans would ostensibly allow for the construction of two warehouses totaling over 125,000 square feet with offices, though once re-zoned I-2 the property could then become any number of even less desirable industrial activities.

Residents of Historic Africatown/Plateau working together with the Africatown Community Development Corporation (Africatown CDC) have sought RESTORE Act funding for support of an alternative vision for their community including the properties in question. Africatown CDC President Joél Lewis, a direct descendent of Africatown’s founder Cudjo Lewis, will take the opportunity to brief Mr. Collins and meeting attendees on the plans about which she and many, many others aspire to be in partnership with the City of Mobile and other interested parties.

The City of Mobile Planning Commission is currently set to vote on the proposed re-zoning on Thursday, December 18 despite the very small window of time given to consider the concerns of residents of Historic Africatown/Plateau.

WHO: District 2 City Council Representative Levon Manzie; President of the Africatown CDC Joél Lewis; Historic Africatown/Plateau residents Joe Womack, Ruth Ballard, Mae Jones, Louise Moorer, and more; Executive Director of the Center for Fair Housing Teresa Fox-Bettis; Mr. Bob Collins of Bean Properties, LLC; Pastor Chris Williams and parishioners of Yorktown Missionary Baptist Church; Pastor Garrett Tucker and parishioners of Union Baptist Church; and many other concerned residents of greater Mobile and Prichard.

WHAT: A community meeting to discuss the proposed Heavy Industry re-zoning of a Residential property south of Papermill Road in Historic Africatown/Plateau

WHEN: Tuesday, December 16 at 6:00PM

WHERE: Yorktown Missionary Baptist Church, 851 East St Mobile, AL 36610

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

Visuals: Yorktown Missionary Baptist Church filled with concerned residents of Historic Africatown/Plateau and Magazine Point to hear presentations and have questions answered by the he Africatown CDC and the industrial real estate development corporation Bean Properties, LLC.

Interview Opportunities: District 2 City Council Representative Levon Manzie; President of the Africatown CDC Joe’l Lewis; Historic Africatown/Plateau residents Joe Womack, Ruth Ballard, Mae Jones, Louise Moorer, and more; and Executive Director of the Center for Fair Housing Teresa Fox-Bettis.

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A flier that MEJAC & the Africatown CDC distributed to alert residents to the imposing risks.