Community Foundation announces plans for downtown building

The Willow Springs Community Foundation is set to assume ownership and control over the dilapidated building at Main and Center Streets following an announcement at a public hearing Thursday. WSCF Director Dean Aye sat down for an interview with Howell County News Friday morning to discuss the terms of the agreement and the Foundation’s plans for the building. 
There are five parties who signed the Memorandum of Understanding presented to the Board of Alderman Thursday night, Aye said. Main Street Willow Springs, LLC is the current owner of the building, and they have agreed to donate it to the Foundation. The City of Willow Springs has pledged to submit a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) on behalf of the Foundation. The Willow Springs Development Corporation will be providing significant funding, as will private donors. 
The Foundation itself is the fifth party. According to Aye, their part is to assume possession and ownership of the building and to oversee its repair. 
These repairs will take place in two phases. The first phase is to secure the building in the interest of public safety. The condition of this building has been on the city council’s agenda every month since July. Two structural engineers hired by the city have concluded it is dangerous as it stands. 
“The first step is, as rapidly as possible, to secure the front and repair the roof,” Aye told Howell County News. As previously reported by this outlet, these are the city’s main concerns as well. 
There will be a “lull” before the second phase, but ultimately the Foundation intends to turn the property into a “revenue-producing building.” They plan to build out four-or-five retail storefronts on the ground level and four two-bedroom apartments on the second floor. 
A long-term goal is to build it out, rent the units out, and to sell it as a viable business investment. 
“After all, the Willow Springs Community Foundation is a nonprofit,” Aye said.
For now, the challenge is the same as the previous owners’ -- to complete repairs and resolve the threat to public safety. Aye says he is gathering bids and is shooting for a start date of May 1 to begin repairs. 
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Howell County News

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