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The City of Greenville is floating options around applying for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund the demolition of deteriorated residential and commercial structures across the city. The topic was discussed during a public meeting held May 19.

“We are looking at submitting a large city competitive fund application for a demolition project,” said Ashton Hutchinson, Director of Community and Economic Development for the South Central Alabama Development Commission. “This will be a town-wide residential and commercial demolition.”

Hutchinson was in attendance on behalf of the City of Greenville during an informal public hearing and explain the two categories available under the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs’ CDBG program. The large city competitive category — intended for infrastructure needs such as water, sewer, roads and housing — offers a grant ceiling of $500,000 with a 10% local match. 

Greenville leaders are targeting the latter category for the proposed demolition project.

“It’s for commercial and residential structures throughout the entire city,” Hutchinson clarified. “We will categorize it under slum and blight instead of LMI or urgent need for this project. We’ve identified roughly 35 properties at the moment and we are waiting on a process to come back to see how many of those 35 we can fit into the budget for this project.”

Hutchinson emphasized the demolition effort on any structure would be voluntary.

“Anyone whose property is on the list for demolition would sign a temporary easement for demolition and clearance,” Hutchinson said. “Voluntary demolition without acquisition,” Property owners would retain ownership of the land after the structures are cleared.

City Clerk Dee Blackmon said that while Greenville has conducted similar demolition efforts in Baggins Hill and Methodist Hill, the planned project would be the first time the city has pursued a citywide approach.

Councilman Jaeques Brown inquired whether the city could use the grant funds for broader infrastructure improvements like water and sewer extensions or downtown revitalization. Hutchinson explained that the grant application must focus solely on demolition. 

“You are only allowed to have one application open at a time,” Hutchinson said. “So hopefully we get this funded and we close it around in a two-year cycle and then we can apply for some of the other activities you can do as well.”

Hutchinson cautioned that funding is not guaranteed. 

“I would say it is very competitive,” she said. “But the city of Greenville has a very good track record for getting these types of projects funded, meaning CDG projects, specifically.”

Residents would likely know by October whether the project is approved. If funded, the city would enter a 75-day Conditional Commitment period before going to bid.

Greenville resident Marcus Anderson voiced his support for the program.

“We could really use something like that,” Anderson said. “When you drive around town and see all the abandoned buildings falling down and crumbling, it doesn’t look good.”

Applications are due July 23. If submitted, the final proposal will be made available for public review on or after that date.