Century Considers Approval For 300 Foot Cell Tower Next To The Library Or Showalter Park

January 18, 2021

Century is considering which of two locations to lease for a 300-foot tall cell tower — one directly next to the library and the other near Showalter Park.

According to the town, the tower will be used for AT&T cellular service, and other companies might lease space from Diamond Towers.

The two parcels owned by the town under consideration for the tower site are:

  • A 0.698 acre lot directly south of the Century Branch Library. The tower would be located less than 50 feet from the library property, which is owned by Escambia County.
  • A 0.68 acre area located on the northeast corner of the town’s maintenance building property on Alger Road, just across the railroad tracks from the playground at Showalter Park.

Diamond Towers is requesting a variance to the required 200 foot setback requirement for the tower.

At 300 feet, the tower would be about the equivalent of a 30 story building, according to interim City Manager Vernon Prather.

The town council is expected to vote on the tower location at their regular council meeting Tuesday night.

If approved, Diamond Towers will lease one of the two properties at $1,000 total for one year with an optional extension for one more year at $1,000. Once a tower is constructed, Diamond’s lease will increase to $1,500 per month for at least five years, with another $500 per month due for additional cellular providers collocated on the tower.

Pictured: This lot next to the Century Branch Library is one of two locations under consideration for a 300-foot tall cell tower. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

13 Responses to “Century Considers Approval For 300 Foot Cell Tower Next To The Library Or Showalter Park”

  1. zeus on January 21st, 2021 5:17 pm

    Diamond Tower

    ya”ll can call me. Private property, your good to go.

  2. William Reynolds on January 19th, 2021 11:25 am

    ”tower belongs to at&t”

    It will belong to Diamond Towers with space leased to AT&T, and potentially others.

  3. sam on January 19th, 2021 9:55 am

    folks the tower belongs to at&t and will provide great and better cell service for their customers. verizon and any other service provider can and probably will get on the tower.

  4. JustSaying on January 19th, 2021 7:19 am

    Easy money for the town and perks for miles! Good move! I agree though, please add verizon.

  5. DK on January 18th, 2021 8:16 pm

    Seems mighty low I’ve been involved in a similar situation and the gentleman got $12k a month????

  6. Steve on January 18th, 2021 3:37 pm

    “Resident” You do realize the risk to a falling tower is almost nonexistent?
    And the radiation you get from just being out in the SUN is way higher than any tower.

    The transmit radiation from the panels is so low that it takes special monitors to even see it over the radiation of the sun.

  7. David on January 18th, 2021 2:08 pm

    At Resident…
    Good questions…why ask it here?
    Pick your your rotary phone up and call and ask “the tower people” that question.
    And when they give you an answer…what are you going to do…?
    Nothing…lol

  8. chris on January 18th, 2021 1:35 pm

    @tg : it’s possible, since Century government has been for sale for years now. easily bought.

  9. tg on January 18th, 2021 9:26 am

    Would it be possible to lease the whole town of Century?

  10. Resident on January 18th, 2021 9:15 am

    So if the tower falls if hits the library. Cellular radiation constantly bombarding the kids and the town hall. A giant lightning rod next to the library. And it will look real nice. And the setback requirements…did they ask the library if that’s ok? Mr. Gomez that owns the building on the other side ? Why does the tower company insist on getting town property rather than a private landowner?

  11. SE on January 18th, 2021 8:30 am

    Hey, Diamond Tower. Give me a holler. I’ve got a great place for your tower and you don’t have to deal with inept politicians.

  12. Willis on January 18th, 2021 8:29 am

    I’m not interested in at&t but Verizon needs to get in the business of better service up here.

    Then again might change to at&t i suppose if they bring good service to town.

  13. sam on January 18th, 2021 8:00 am

    what are they waiting on? it’s a win for the town, they do nothing and the city gets paid.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News