Months later than planned, the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau has finally moved into its new downtown office space.
Employees were working out of boxes Monday as phone lines and Internet connections were being set up in the 4,000-square-foot office at 117 Third St. S. behind the Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center.
The plush furniture had already been set up in the lobby and board room by Monday morning, five days after the final papers were signed Thursday to transfer ownership from River Ridge Condominiums to the CVB.
Although the public grand opening will not be until mid-May, the CVB is open and ready for business, with the same telephone and fax numbers as before, said CVB Interim Director Nancy Carpenter.
Carpenter said Monday that the move, which began Friday, was “very well organized, so there”s no chaos today.”
“We”ve got an amazing amount of things done,” she said, looking around the new board room, which has a giant television on the wall and heart of pine floors.
“The workmanship here,” she added, “is unsurpassed.”
But the cost of the workmanship briefly threw the project into jeopardy in February, when the office was appraised at a lower value ($600,000) than its purchase price ($734,881). The CVB”s governing city and county boards cannot approve purchasing property for more than its appraised worth.
The issue was solved earlier this month when a second appraisal commissioned by CVB board attorney David Dunn set the value at $850,000, or $212.50 per square foot, clearing the way for city and county approval.
But the delay had its price: Instead of paying $734,881, as initially agreed, the CVB has to foot a bill of $753,637 or so, $224,035.74 of which has already been paid. The roughly $18,756 difference is partly due to upkeep costs as well as change orders and additional fiber optic work.
Now, Carpenter said she and the other CVB employees are just grateful to have a new home.
“We”re very grateful,” she continued, “and I certainly think (the office) is something all of Columbus can be very proud of.”
The old Seventh Avenue North office will, which belongs to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority, will continue to house other organizations.
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