Structural Evaluation of the
Blanche Hotel
Now in the hands of the City Council
Columbia County, FL (Posted
Feb 27,
2010 • at 11:15 am)
By Stew Lilker
Learning
that Lake City had received a proposal for a structural
analysis of the Blanche Hotel from
Jones Edmunds, the Observer met for a few minutes
last Tuesday with City Manager Wendell Johnson for an
update and a review of the proposal and progress report
on the Blanche.
CM Johnson was upbeat about the Blanche's prospects
for revival, but at the same time was cautious about
moving too fast.
CM Johnson had scheduled a meeting with the mortgage
holders, the owners and Councilman Ward for later in the
week and told the Observer, "We are not here to give
handouts. We are here to help the owners, if we can."
The ever cautions CM told the Observer, "We are not
going to commit to anything until we know that the
building is not going to fall down."
CM Johnson continued, "I don't look lightly on my
responsibility to keep a watchful eye on the taxpayer's
money and I know the City Council doesn't either. This
is our obligation as civic leaders."
The Jones Edmunds Engineering proposal
CM Johnson explained that if the city is going to
take a risk on the Blanche, then the engineering report
is the risk assessment.
CM Johnson was hoping the owner was going to commit
to share in the cost of the engineering study and told
the Observer, "If they do, I am sure the City Council
will be willing to pay the other half."
CM Johnson said that he had negotiated the original
lump sum fee for the engineering assessment down to
$19,500. The original proposed fee was $29,000.
It is hard to escape the ever cautious City Manager's
enthusiasm for the revitalization of Lake City's
downtown and the Blanche, which he feels has to be
included in the downtown restoration plan.
This Monday night, the City Council will weigh in
with its thoughts and its vote on whether to accept the
responsibility of the engineering study.
