Tornado Flattens Century’s Job Hopes

February 22, 2016

When an EF-3 tornado slammed into Century last Monday, it not only damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, it also blew away a large part of Century’s economic development hopes for new jobs.

The former  Alger-Sullivan Lumber property just off Front Street was heavily damaged, including a collapse of the rear portion of the largest building.

The property was one of two available large industrial facilities available for sale in the town, and local officials had hoped to one day land a new manufacturing plant and jobs for the economically-depressed town.

“It was one of our big hopes. We had somebody in here two weeks ago that was looking favorably at putting in something,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “It hurts us when we see that it’s down.”

Before the tornado, the former Alger-Sullivan property included 330,200 square feet in eight buildings on 38 acres, all zoned commercial and located near the railroad with a CSX spur available. Local real estate listings show a $1.5 million asking price on the property, which is owned by a group of investors based in Destin,  before the tornado.

But, sometimes the eternal optimist, the mayor quipped that perhaps someone can get a good deal on the damaged property.

“The people that own it might take less money for it and hopefully a good builder would come in here then and take advantage of that and build up some of the buildings and get something going, McCall said.

Century’s other available large industrial location is the former Helicopter Technology building on Industrial Boulevard. It is move-in ready 40,000 square feet was not damaged by the tornado.

Pictured top: A ground level view of the back of the main building at the former Alger Sullivan Lumber Company in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Tornado Flattens Century’s Job Hopes”

  1. Reality Check on February 23rd, 2016 12:50 pm

    There are no jobs coming to Century. It is simply not a viable option for any business owner. Even when someone is willing to invest in this area, they are turned down because of the product they want to sell. Face it, this area is basically the next Detroit.

  2. Thoughts on February 22nd, 2016 11:37 am

    Add that to the bottom line of damage. Have forestry service add in the trees all along the way. Like they did in Alamaba with ArcGis in 2011.

  3. jeeperman on February 22nd, 2016 11:35 am

    Perhaps the city should make an “as is offer”.
    Make sure it falls within the new CRA.
    Use local labor to clean up and salvage what can be.
    Then market it as free with “x” amount of jobs created for “x” amount of years.
    Use the future taxes generated to pay for loan in order to buy it and “sell” it.

  4. Thoughts on February 22nd, 2016 10:58 am

    Amazon Warehouse??? Optimism is good.

  5. Bob C. on February 22nd, 2016 6:38 am

    BP — BP — BP — BP — BP For months upon months upon months we hear our Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and other leadership (?) blabbing about how to use the TENS of MILLIONS of dollars our COUNTY is to receive in oil spill settlement funds.

    If jobs economic development, improvement of urban areas, and dozens more tags are part of the Requirements for using the BP / Deephorizon moneys then WHY are our Elected Officials and Members of the Restoration ( or whatever they label themselves ) not considering using those funds to RESTORE / REBUILD Century so the property owners and business persons won’t have to incur great debt through the Small Business Assn LOANS.?

    Century needs JOBS and what better time to help jump start their economy than Right Now?

  6. Pop on February 22nd, 2016 6:09 am

    Surely it was insured?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News