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DFA breaks ground on Barrett’s Landing bathroom project
Published Friday, February 5, 2010
Photo by Nicholas Langhorne
Tammy and Mickey Gray (front, from left), whose company is doing the site work for the new building, DFA President Victor Story and Mayor Jim Councill break ground at Barrett’s Landing. In the back row are Donald Goodwin, Beverly Meyers, Nancy Parrish, Brenda Rickman and Pam Ellis.
FRANKLIN—Despite Wednesday morning’s cold temperatures, the Downtown Franklin Association broke ground on a project they say will improve Barrett’s Landing by making portable toilets a thing of the past and providing concession and storage space.
“I’m real pleased with what it will provide for functions at Barrett’s Landing,” said Franklin Mayor Jim Councill, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony. “It’ll enhance the niceness of the area and offer a great resource to people who either want to rent the place or for publicly-sponsored events.”
Members of the DFA, the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce, representatives from local foundations and city officials were also on hand for the ceremony.
“This building will enhance the park and provide a healthier environment,” said Dan Howe, the executive director of the DFA.
Howe said only local contractors would build the project.
“We want this to be a community project,” he said.
In November, the City Council authorized City Attorney Taylor Williams to negotiate a lease agreement between the city and the DFA for the parcel of land that the building will be constructed on. The council also agreed to waive certain fees associated with the construction of the building.
Howe said he is looking forward “to continuing teamwork and cooperation to complete the project.”
The Franklin-Southampton Charities, the Camp foundations, DFA volunteers, city staff members and local citizens and businesses were instrumental in getting the project this far, Howe said.
“We are very excited to finally get this started,” DFA president Victor Story said. “It should make attending functions here at Barrett’s Landing much more enjoyable.”
The DFA hopes to have the building complete before the We Be Jammin’ concert series starts in May.
“I think it’s going to be a real nice asset to our downtown effort and to the citizens,” Councill said.
DFA board secretary Kathy Worrell contributed to this report.
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Comments
Posted by bluefishgertie (anonymous) on February 4, 2010 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This will certainly be appreciated by those that attend Barrett's Landing activities. Thanks DFA.
Posted by 20gauge (anonymous) on February 4, 2010 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The DFA could have better served the downtown area by using the "funds" for this "project" to refurbish the Main St.
community.This"project" is nothing but a target for vandalism and other mischief.How much retail business will be generated by these bathrooms?This is a disaster waiting to happen!!
Posted by Iraqvet (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My goodness their just bathrooms! not a nuclear bomb building facility! Those bathrooms will definitley be great addition to Barretts Landing.
Posted by chuck (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The building will also house the concession stands, so that will generate some income.
Nice to see the preference for local contractors. Gray & Sons Construction has done work for me -- they are good people.
Posted by DarkMoon (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Iraqvet - Just bathrooms? they must be nice ones, cost over $100,000.00.
The Council also agreed to waive certain fees associated with the construction of the building. What was the total amount of money the City agreed to waive including all other department’s contribution’s? Why do Committee’s and Association’s start projects and them try to make them City Projects? Isn’t this the tax payer’s money? I never had a problem with the drunks using port-a-jons. I would say it only benefits probably less than 5% of the tax payers in Franklin. Do the City Police look the other way when people leave the Thursday night events? The City doesn’t get any money for these events so I don’t understand why the City waives any fees for this project.
Posted by cheechee (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not against the ideas of public restrooms at Barrett's Landing. It's a great idea--in theory. But, who pray tell, will foot the bill when they are vandalized??? Will they be locked up during the night to curtail mischief? Who will be responsible for ensuring that the facilities are thorougly stocked with the necessities? Sounds like another wasted endeavor at the taxpayer's expense!
Posted by sweetwater (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who foots the bill for regular sanitation? If the building is only to be used during functions and locked at other times, it seems very expensive for such little use. If the building is to be open for use more or less daily, this will require several thousand dollars at least in upkeep.
Is the city doing anything to help Mr. Rabil? Seems like "Fred's" is getting a raw deal. I like Barret's landing and have attended the functions there but this seems like a lot of money for something that if it does bring in money, it will do so at some expense to a long-time business.
Posted by m992fs (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
will the dfa pay the same as i do for electic water sewer and trash .Sweetwater what makes freds any better than any one of us downtown
Posted by sweetwater (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't suggest anyone was "better" than anyone else. I was referring to the direct competition the DFA will pose to Fred's by offering food and beer after 5 pm. I do not see the functions to be in any competition with the accountants, tire repair, antiques, office supply, etc. Maybe they will compete with Hardee's and the Lunch Counter at Parker Drug for the food money but I know of no one else in downtown that sells on-premises beer. Anyone who has worked in a bar knows that it is the alcohol sales that make or break a bar/restaurant.
Posted by sweetwater (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 6:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I should add, that I have not spoken to anyone at Fred's and apologize if I was speaking out of turn. I was reflecting on a post I read on a previous article about the new bathrooms where a poster stated that he was glad the bathrooms would be built so he would not have to go to Fred's to take a leak. I remember that when I read that post I gave some thought to the business that might be lost. Maybe I'm wrong though. Maybe the functions bring more business to Fred's and other downtown businesses.
Posted by grantsara83 (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sweetwater, take a leak?
Posted by sweetwater (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A common euphemism for urinating.
Posted by grantsara83 (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree correct spelling and proper grammer does add a certain flair and understandability to one's posts. For that I thank you, unfortunately my acute Adult Deficit Disorder plays tricks on me.
Posted by SilverBullet (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sweet, that sara does have a way with words. she should be in politics.
Posted by minkybut (Jeff Turner) on February 6, 2010 at 12:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Certainly the facilities will be nice. If one day the waterfront is developed there to its full potential the toilets will be utilized more often than just at the concerts. Like if a elevated nature trail extending the boardwalk through the swamp behind Birdsongs ever comes to fruition. Joggers, walkers, birdwatchers etc will then have a nice facility. Or if boat slips are ever put in place there at the pavilion for boaters to be able to visit downtown or Freds or the concerts. Also at the Fall Festival they will be handy. However they will have a maintenance issue and vandalism issue thats a given. The police will have to run the homeless people out them that are now using the porta johns at the boat landing. Those toilets are already in terrible shape because of vandalism and are full of wine bottles in the toilets. Anything like this has its +'s & -'s.
Posted by Kate1963 (anonymous) on February 6, 2010 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's GRAMMAR, by the way.
Perhaps, "If YOU sprinkle when YOU tinkle, would YOU be a sweetie and wipe the seatie?
PS: Wash your hands well, with soap!! We like WINE, not WHINE, and no SWINE, please. Just pork chops.
Posted by grantsara83 (anonymous) on February 6, 2010 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I did not say I had mastred speling, I was just comenting on the spelin and gramir of my superir piers. I'm stil b counting n's in whining. Stay dry and safe.
Posted by Baffled (anonymous) on February 6, 2010 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Darn, grantsara83, that was good! I was almost too dumb to read it! Too funny. You get an A+ on that one!
Posted by grantsara83 (anonymous) on February 6, 2010 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Baffled, at least you are kind and suffer this old girl's ramblings and buffonery. You will forever be in my heart, as a kind and gentle person.
Posted by SilverBullet (anonymous) on February 6, 2010 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
she keeps me laughing....baffled.....and, thats a good thing
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