COLUMBUS — Almost a year ago, the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau held its monthly tourism partners meeting on the grounds of the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater, confident Phase 2 of the project could be completed in time for a paid concert in the spring of 2020.
Since that bright October morning, a lack of state funding, the effects of February’s flooding and a recent series of graffiti vandalism have left the facility more of an eyesore than a showpiece. It’s been more than two years since construction halted on the project, where there is a completed stage and little else.
Even so, the show may go on next spring, although it will be a free concert, similar in scale to those held just across the river at the Columbus Riverwalk.
“I’d say by the end of the year, you’re definitely going to see some construction going on out there,” City engineer Kevin Stafford said. “Our intention is to be able to have a free concert there in the spring.”
As originally planned, the proposed $5.7 million project was to be funded through state appropriations. But after completing the $3.2 million Phase 1 on the project, which included the stage, electrical/water/sewer and some concrete work, in August 2017, state funding stalled. The Legislature appropriated no funds in 2017 or 2018, then provided just $500,000 of the $2.5 million needed to complete Phase 2 during the 2019 legislative session.
Phase 2 was supposed to have included restrooms, concession stands, seating and other amenities as well as the perimeter fencing necessary to draw paid concerts and events.
With city leaders doubtful the state will provide more funding, the new plan will be to add those features as money becomes available.
Further complicating matters was the February flood that swept into the facility, immersed the stage and compromised electrical systems, leaving the site filled with silt.
“When the flood happened, we had to shift our focus to cleanup before we could move forward with our new Phase 2,” Stafford said. “(The Federal Emergency Management Agency) needed us to document the damage and they wanted very specific documentation of the damage.”
Stafford said while much, perhaps most, of the electrical equipment was not ruined, the flood voided warranty on the equipment.
“We finally heard back from FEMA and they’re providing about $150,000 for the repairs,” Stafford said. “Most of that is for replacing the electrical stuff, but we are replacing a lift station and they are also providing money for silt removal.”
An error in the claims docket in August showed a $124,606.75 invoice from Webster Electrical for repairs at the amphitheater. Stafford said the amount was an estimate on the repairs that was to be provided to FEMA as part of the recovery and was removed from the docket.
Graffiti issues
Stafford said the cleanup from the flooding has started.
The city will also use that cleanup period to remove the graffiti that has been spray-painted around the stage area.
Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin said he was made aware of the graffiti “a few weeks ago.”
“Unfortunately, it’s something that happens from time to time,” Gavin said. “About the only thing you can do is put cameras up. We did that at the Riverwalk several years ago and downtown. That seems to have worked pretty well.”
Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton said in a statement his department has taken measures to end the graffiti, but did not offer details.
“Steps have been taken to prevent this from occurring in the future,” Shelton said. “We take the destruction of public property seriously and those caught damaging this or any other city property will be prosecuted.”
Stafford said security cameras are a part of the planned Phase 2.
“We have a pool of about $600,000 (which includes $99,000 in 2-percent tax revenue),” Stafford said. “Obviously, that isn’t enough to finish the entire project, so we started thinking about what we could do with the money we have.”
That phase will include a brick and iron fence running from the back of the stage down the east side of the river and back up the incline to where the main wall at the entrance of the theater will built, which will also be covered with the funds now available. The plans call for a rock driveway to the back of the stage, a concrete pad that will eventually provide the foundation for the restrooms and concessions areas, along with lighting and security cameras.
“There is kind of a natural wall of trees and the slope on the west side, but obviously it’s not a fence, so you couldn’t have a paid concert,” Stafford said.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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