Portland, Tennessee Blog

Shows a lot of class Jason,that's what makes Portland a great place to live.

Good point Terry. I didn't look at it that way I guess. I'm just saying I wish the City or county would clean up the area along hwy. 52 coming from I-65. I think this area needs to be standing tall for the vistor's coming into town. I was to quick to judge so I'm sorry to anyone I offended.

Jason,I don't know what you do for a living,but it has been said that most people are 3 missed paychecks from being homeless,be it a lost job,health problem or a self imposed malady such as alcohol or drugs.A lot of the way people live and keep their homes is hereditary,they werent taught any different.I know because I am a landlord to the very type of people of which you speak.I do the best I can to keep up the appearances of my properties but these properties dont belong to the people who live there,therefore the type of care that you and I would put into the appearance of our homes is not of great importance to them.As for the junk cars,I the property owner am held responsible,not the person who parked the car there,and believe me,the codes department does not let it slide.I have recieved my fair share of certified letters.I guess what I'm trying to say is everyone needs a place to live,whether it be a $250,000 dream home or a $100.00 a week trailer.Everyone can't afford to have the best,and that trailer is just as much home to them as the mansion is to the millionaire.Dont be so quick to judge,you could miss 3 paychecks.

I'd be affraid that building would come all to pieces during the move. I've watched the shows before, they know what there doing but you never know. To me it wouldn't be worth it for the city to be filmed or heck even if the Pope came over to see it....

Jason,
All I know is the Mayor said the company from Springfield has worked with shows like Megamovers in the past and there is a chance they might find someone interested in filming the possible move of the Ponderosa Building

Daniel are you referring to the History channel filming this move?

I dis-agree with you Terry. All I'm saying is they can ATLEAST try to keep there yards, houses clean. The main area I was referring to is the entrance to the city from I-65 coming down 52. I mean clean the mess up or atleast move it to the back yard. What's your first thought if you were passing though maybe going to Westmoreland or Macon county and saw this? I know what I think, others just don't have the ball's to say it....my two cents!

The City of Portland has the opportunity to acquire a building worth over half a million dollars for half the price.
With Walgreens scheduled to start construction on their new location on Highway 52, the company offered the city the existing building that used to house Ponderosa Steak House.
“Walgreens offered us the building if we could move it,” said Portland Mayor Ken Wilber during a recent city council work-study.
According to Wilber, a company out of Springfield has offered to move the building for an estimated $100,000.
The building is estimated to be worth over $500,000.
There are still several concerns that would need to be ironed out before the building could be moved.
The first consideration would be funding to which Wilber says the city would have to borrow the finances.
The council is also discussing what the building would be used for. One popular suggestion has been to move the structure to Meadowbrook Park for a community center.
Moving the building would be something like the scenes from television shows such as “Mega Movers” on The History Channel.
The movers would use equipment to drill holes in the walls and lift the building by basically squeezing it.
The council estimates the moving fees and electrical work at a total cost of $250,000 since a new foundation will have to be built.
The council has discussed moving the building to other locations but issues with the size of the roads may force the structure to Meadowbrook Park.
Officials hope to have a plan in the next 2-3 weeks to utilize the building before it would be destroyed.
“For $250,000, you can have a half a million dollar building,” said Alderman Mike Callis.
The building is nearly 6,800 square feet in size according to Public Works Superintendent Brian Goodwin.
At the same time, the council is also discussing the possibility of adding a Public Works building separate from the current location of City Hall.
Wilber said if constructed, the new building would house the entire Public Works staff and possibly the Planning and Codes department.
Utility bills would still be paid at City Hall according to Wilber.
Goodwin said the department has a plan drawn up at a little over $5,000 square feet ready to be bid on.
Wilber said that many departments located at City Hall need additional help but there currently is not much space to accommodate new help.

I agree with Terry on the "trashy" remark. That was crossing the line. But I do agree there is NO reason for trash, old cars, etc. to be piled up in anyones yard. Why doesn't the city start fining people for this and why is there so many
"slum" lords in this town?

Jason,as for the trashy people you refer to,all people cannot afford a nice house for one reason or another.Most people do the best they can.I think you owe those people an apology.

We asked that more information be provided to us on this matter, if others have more info than me I would like to review it.
If the city is given an opportunity to expand civic space, then we should explore it.
It may be that this building does not meet our present needs, but the building is an option we should explore.
Thank You,
Mike Callis

Exactly Jas!!

Ok, Now I have read the article and my answer is still a big NOOOOOOO! Nice of Walgreens to GIVE us their white elephant, It would cost them a pretty penney to demo that building and then removal of the debris. If we take it for $1.00 it then costs them "$0" to get rid of and we take on a $250k debt to get it moved and set back up. Hummmmm... and just who is winning from this deal????

Great comment Jody!! Let's put our money to other areas of the city. Like maybe cleaning up the entrance into our city down Hwy. 52 coming from I-65. I mean have you look at this area of town lately? Can you say trashy people...???

After studying all the in's and out's of this, I understand that this would be a good building, and the other councilmen tried to convince me that we were getting a 500,000.00 building for 1/2 of that, but I just personally believe that we are playing "beat the clock" because they need something done with the building quickly. After wieghing all the odds, I do NOT see this as a good idea! I know we need a community center, but for 250,000.00 we could build one heck of a nice facility, WHERE we want it. Not where we HAVE to put it because of limitations in moving the building. You folks are right, we need to put our hat racks together and re-think this one!

The building is not worth the price of moving it.Just think of the building you could build for that amount of money.My God, does anyone in our city government use their heads for anything but a hat rack?!

Why doesn't the city put this money toward some the town's debt?? You know just a thought.....

Will the Portland Progressive guy please post the newspaper article to the blog so we are sure to get the facts straight.
Thanks

Haven't read the paper, just your message...... my answer is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! are they nuts or something!!