PINE BLUFF -- A multimillion-dollar revitalization plan for Pine Bluff proposed by Simmons First National Bank in which the bank would partner with the city to spark growth and end decades of decay has been met with interest from city officials.
The Simmons Bank proposal comes at a time when several downtown buildings have collapsed or partially collapsed after years of neglect. Two buildings that collapsed are next door to the bank's headquarters on Main Street, which is blocked off in both directions between Fourth and Fifth avenues until the structures can be razed.
The southbound lanes of Main Street between Sixth and Eighth avenues are also blocked because of another partially collapsed building.
Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth praised Simmons on Friday for its plan. A meeting between Simmons executives and the Pine Bluff City Council is planned for Wednesday.
"Hallelujah. That was my first reaction," the mayor said. "We are excited, hopeful and overjoyed. This is something Pine Bluff desperately needs, and we cannot thank Simmons enough for wanting to help this city."
The core of Simmons' plan, which must be approved by the City Council, calls for spending $2 million to redevelop downtown; establishing a pool of $2 million for low-interest, owner-occupied home improvement loans; $5 million for nonowner occupied low-interest improvement loans; $5 million for owner-occupied commercial property low-interest improvement loans, as well as establishing a downtown planning group.
Simmons also proposes funding a complete redevelopment plan for downtown.
A list of requirements that must be met by the city is also included in the plan. Among them are beefed-up code enforcement and more stringent building inspections. The city must also "agree to participate in a Simmons-funded study of city codes to produce an analysis and recommendations which, if implemented, will result in effective laws to facilitate swift identification and enforcement action for all real property in the city of Pine Bluff," according to the plan.
George Makris, Simmons' president, said the initial plan is only a draft and that "there will be changes made to it as we iron out all of the legal issues."
But Makris stressed that Simmons "must see a serious commitment by the city and full agreement by the City Council" before the plan could be implemented.
"Simmons is committed to Pine Bluff, and we feel like this plan shows that," Makris said. "We hope the City Council will want to move in this direction as well.
"We have 450 associates working in this city, and with our growth potential, more will be coming. But we have to create the right kind of business environment in order to do that. We are making a commitment to Pine Bluff and its future."
Pine Bluff Alderman Steven Mays said he likes what he has seen of the plan so far, calling it "a major step toward revitalizing our city."
Mays said he looks forward to future meetings with Simmons executives.
"This is a good proposal, and I believe it will work for the city of Pine Bluff," Mays said. "We have been expecting Simmons to step up and support us, and that is what they are doing right now in our efforts to rebuild and redevelop Pine Bluff."
Pine Bluff Alderman Lloyd Holcomb Jr. said he is also supportive of Simmons' plan.
"I think we should go for it," he said. "I will support it."
Meanwhile, aging downtown buildings continue to crumble. The most recent incident happened last week, when a large section of the ceiling fell inside a Main Street building housing Jefferson County sheriff's office employees. The collapse came during nonworking hours, and no one was injured.
Jefferson County Sheriff Gerald Robinson is negotiating with Pine Bluff airport officials to temporally house workers whose offices are in the affected building. The workers are primarily part of technical services and the Tri-County Drug Task Force, according to the sheriff's office.
Just a few blocks away, the roof of the Mid-South Music store on Main Street partially collapsed two weeks ago, and next door, sizable collapses on Feb. 23 of the former Band Museum and a former VFW next to it were attributed to roof problems. The Band Museum is beside Simmons Bank offices.
It and the old VFW were vacant, but Mid-South owner Robert English was in his store when a large section of the building's roof caved in on the third floor. English, who was not injured, said he plans to relocate his business.
City officials are trying to work with the building owners to come up with a plan to clear the debris, but ownership questions remain with some of the derelict buildings.
City records show that Marlene Davis-Lilly of Pine Bluff owns the former Band Museum building but has done nothing to either shore it up or tear it down. Repeated attempts to contact Davis-Lilly have been unsuccessful.
After several years of trying, the city has not identified the owner of the former VFW post, Hollingsworth said.
Hollingsworth said Davis-Lilly and the Band Museum's former owners are in a dispute over the property's title, which has hindered demolition efforts in recent years. Davis-Lilly has told the city that she purchased the building without knowing it had been condemned and that the issue of ownership may have to be decided in court, the mayor said.
The city has plans to remove debris at the museum and VFW and deal with billing the property owners later. Five contractors have placed bids, but the City Council must approve them first.
The lowest bid -- $168,950 -- is from Warrior Environmental Service of Pine Bluff.
Hollingsworth has said removing the debris and reopening Main Street are top priorities because of "public health and safety concerns."
On Friday afternoon, June Holebrook of Pine Bluff stood beside her idling car along Fifth Avenue near Simmons' headquarters and the two collapsed buildings. She snapped pictures, saying she was saddened by the "devastation of what was once a beautiful downtown."
Holebrook, 70, said she heard news of the bank's plans for Pine Bluff and supports them.
"I am old enough to remember the good old days," Holebrook said. "This place used to shine. At least there are some visionaries who want to make it shine again. I pray it happens."
State Desk on 03/23/2015