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Company Has Purchased, Is Cleaning Up Century’s Alger Sullivan Mill Property; County Freezes Code Violation Fines
April 1, 2021
The tornado ravaged Alger Sullivan Lumber Mill property in Century has a new owner that’s already started cleaning up, and Escambia County has suspended the tolling of code enforcement fines on the site.
The 38-acre abandoned industrial site was heavily damaged and, until recently, sat mostly untouched since EF-3 tornado winds of 150 mph five years ago.
The property was purchased March 1, 2021, by Creighton Sounds, LLC of Pensacola.
The principal owner of Creighton Sounds was involved in “Project Fusion” that in November 2020 canceled a pending contract with the Town of Century to purchase the former Helicopter Technology building and about 40 acres in the Century Industrial Park. The company had promised 80 new jobs and a $15.3 million capital investment during their first five years.
“I’m very proud to say that we’re the new owner of One Lumber Road (the Alger Sullivan Lumber property),” Creighton Sounds representative Kipp Anglin told NorthEscambia.com in an exclusive interview. “We’re very excited that we’re in Century to help the fine folks of that town to bring jobs and to clean up an area that’s been devastated by a tornado since 2016 that ravished their neighborhood. It’s been nothing but an eyesore. We’re making progress and we look forward to making more.”
Anglin said he did not wish to disclose the business development plans for the site at the present time as they focus on the huge cleanup project ahead.
Anglin appeared before an Escambia County Special Magistrate Robert O. Beasley this week to ask the county to put code enforcement violation fines on hold.
Environmental enforcement costs and fines of $50 a day against the previous property owners have been accruing since 2016 and now stand at an estimated $85,000. Beasley ordered the fines on the property put on hold as of March 1, the date of the property purchase by Creighton Sounds. The previous owner, DMT Holdings LLC of Navarre, will still be responsible for the $85,000 and has placed the amount in a trust fund.
According to documents filed with Escambia County Code Enforcement, the company will try to salvage about 60,000 square feet of a building while demolishing five storm damaged structures totaling nearly 300,000 square feet. They are estimating the process to take 180 days.
“We came in two weeks ago and started cleaning up, and we’ve made quite a bit of headway,” Anglin told the magistrate. “In reality, most of the cleanup will be done within the next 90 days. Around the fence line, the property is already bush-hogged, most of the trash is already picked up.” He said several Century residents were hired to help with the process.
He said the biggest unknown in the cleanup process is how long it will take his contractor to remove all but the steel frame of the largest building on the property.
Beasley said that the general cleanup is Escambia County Code Enforcement’s top priority The magistrate said if there are any unforeseen delays for engineering, permitting or other reasons and the building deficiencies cannot be corrected with 180 days, he would be willing to work with the developers.
“I think we would all like to see a clean site with all the debris and garbage cleaned out and the red iron (building framework) standing. That would put you in the best situation for success here,” Beasley said.
Escambia County received three bids for the demolition and cleanup of the mill in 2017, but bids ranged from $800,000 to $3 million — far in excess of the county’s entire 2017 cleanup budget of $463,425. Property records show the value of the property was $802,189 before the tornado, but the most recent assessment shows what remains is worth $226,535.
Pictured top: The tornado damaged Alger Sullivan mill in Century looms over a Front Street neighborhood. Pictured inset: Kipp Anglin, representing the new owners of the Alger Sullivan property in Century, appeared this week before an Escambia County special magistrate. Pictured below: Portions of the property. Pictured bottom four photos: Damage to the property as seen in 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
12 Responses to “Company Has Purchased, Is Cleaning Up Century’s Alger Sullivan Mill Property; County Freezes Code Violation Fines”
I hope this is on the up and up, and well underway.
I just look up the companies and the principles on Sun Biz, It just looked like a bit of title work and legal issues would have to be satisfied by the new company.
I guess they are in contact principle for DMT, if he’s alive hopefully and will practically give it away and they signed things over, hoping to get the code fees cancelled.
I’m all for them doing away with all fines and cleaning this up. ANY improvement is welcome because the longer the government fines built up, the more entangled and worthless it becomes.
Even if they clear off the loose metal and scrap it and some one benefits– it’s great.
The cotton gin people should also be in the helicopter building.
True, I hope the council doesn’t screw this up with pompous blabbering.
It’s in the CRA though and that is good for the TIF there.
Hopefully the council knows how the verify ownership.
I hope this company is on the up and up and brings somethingto the Century that the town can be proud of.
@ Citizen; Looks like this project is well underway without input or interference from anybody connected with the TOC. We can only hope that TOC stays out of the way and let’s it get completed. Let’s hope that TOC doesn’t start playing games with water and sewer connections like they have done with past projects, or start passing ordinances that would interfere with the starting or operating a business.
But I predict that they cannot help themselves, they will meet and try to put themselves in the middle of this project, which could potentially provide much needed jobs in North Escambia County. Let the Clown car ride.
that property hasn’t made any money for the town or the people in a long time. if someone is willing to come in and do something positive with it, FINE. just keep the towns hands off everything. nothing good comes from getting city hall involved.
It’s looking better already.
At least that is a step in the right direction.
Maybe a community fish fry or hotdogs now.
They need to make sure this business has a clear title and the town attorney looks into it deeply.
it looks like DMT holding is a defunct LLC and I believe a defunct LLC Bank of the Keys held a mortgage. it also looks like the taxes were paid via certificate holders and that will have to be satisfied.
I hope this ins’t an April Fools joke and no one needs to give any tax money incentives until they check the Deed and make sure it is recorded and property.
So far One Lumber Road address still has DMT Holdings as the owner on the Escambia Property site.
Town of Century. Do your homework.
“The Town of Century should have taken the 85,000 in fines it was due”
The Town of Century is not due any fines. This is Escambia County Code Enforcement and a county magistrate.
The Town of Century should have taken the 85,000 in fines it was due. The same people cause you to lose out on the industry park site which could had Golden Gin on the property now. Now they are over there on the Alger Sullivan property. Looks like we’re going to have a marijuana farm in Century Fl after all. Which is big business in Florida. Century keep your head up and pay attention to what’s going on in your Town
“Escambia County received three bids for the demolition and cleanup of the mill in 2017, but bids ranged from $800,000 to $3 million”
What you want to bet its getting cleaned up for way less than $800K.
Thank you for cleaning it up. It already looks so much better. I felt so sorry for the people that had to live in front of that awful mess and on the sides. Keep up the great work.
If the TOC Council and Mayor hurry, they can call an emergency meeting and try to figure out how they can stop or hinder the progress of this project like they have all projects or proposals in recent history. It’s time for them to load up in the clown car and ride.
Yippee!