LOCAL GROUP UNVEILS PROPOSAL FOR 'PINK MOTEL'

TOWN TERRACE WOULD BECOME 'POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD'

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The deteriorating Town Terrace Motel on 12th Street would be razed and become a "pocket neighborhood" of upscale townhomes in a proposal presented Tuesday night to Tifton's Historic Preservation Commission (HPC).

John and Michael Bowen of 31 North Real Estate Investors of Tifton said they have a pending contract to purchase the 0.74-acre site. They hope to develop 21  upscale micro-townhomes , all two-story, 960 square-foot units . The "pocket neighborhood" will include a community social space along with a pedestrian-only central courtyard .

The HPC said its guidelines require formal documentation of the cost and feasibility of rehabilitating an existing historic property before it can be demolished. The HPC tabled the matter until its November meeting in order to receive the information.

John Bowen said he recognizes that this is "a difficult conversation." He said he believes in " preserving what makes Tifton special," but the "economic reality" is that saving the current motel, also known as the "Pink Motel," "would require new walls, new wiring" and essentially rebuilding the structures.

"It's not economically viable," he said.

Bowen said he welcomes ideas to salvage elements of the current structure. "This is our neighborhood," he said, noting that both he and his brother reside nearby.

"This site once served as a home for memories and magic," he said, "and we believe it has a magical future."

During Tuesday's meeting, both proponents of the proposed project and opponents of demolition spoke to the HPC.

One citizen called the motel a "landmark," and said that "if it can be saved, it should be saved."

Bruce Green, interim director of the Tifton Urban Redevelopment Agency, said the current motel is part of " our cultural heritage of Tifton." If it is demolished, "will we have created more than we have destroyed?" he asked.

"Please take your time, take a breath, and make sure we move in the right direction," Green told the HPC.

But several citizens said the current state of the motel is "a blight on our community."

"It's infested with rats; the bottom is falling out," said Ellen Spain, who lives nearby. "For 20 years it has just sat there. It's time for it to go."

Chase Nickelson, who also lives in the Historic District, told the HPC, "I'm sensitive to your historic mission and preservation efforts, but the Pink Motel in its current state is not healthy for the community."

Actor Bruce Willis poses Wednesday with Monica Torres of Fresco Italiano restaurant on Tift Avenue in Downtown Tifton.

BRUCE WILLIS IN TOWN;

MAKING FILM IN FITZGERALD

Actor Bruce Willis is in the Tiftarea for a few days filming a science-fiction movie in Fitzgerald, and was spotted Wednesday out and about in Fitzgerald and Tifton.

Willis was seen at a sports shop and in Walmart in Fitzgerald, where he posed for photos with workers and customers, and later had a chicken alfredo dinner at Fresco Italiano restaurant in Downtown Tifton.

Willis told Fresco's owner: “ Good work ; this restaurant is amazing .”

The movie being made in Fitzgerald is called "Anti-Life" and is a science-fiction thriller.

Downtown Tifton

Nancy Bryan, executive director of Ruth's Cottage and The Patticake House, speaks Wednesday to the Rotary Club of Tifton. Seated at left is Lynn Lovett, who heads the fundraising campaign for Ruth's Cottage's new facility, and, at right, is Rotary President Wayne Roe.

RUTH'S COTTAGE SEEKING HELP WITH FURNISHING

NEW FACILITY

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

A campaign to raise $1.8 million to build a new shelter for domestic violence victims has “ paid for the building ,” announced Lynn Lovett , Ruth’s Cottage building campaign chair, at Wednesday’s Tifton Rotary Club meeting.

Also, she said, the contractor for the 11,000-square-foot building expects to complete it in December , ahead of schedule. More funds are needed , however, for about a half-million dollars’ worth of furnishings, equipment, fencing, parking and state-of-the-art security systems , Lovett said.

The facility will provide 26 beds , including three apartments . It is about $1,500-$2,000 to furnish most rooms , she said. “Right now, we can’t serve a mom with three children,” Lovett said. “We will be able to help them in the new building.” 

Lovett told Rotarians that theirs was the first brick sold in 2017. Engraved bricks may still be purchased for $ 250. She said the generosity of local governments helped pave the way with grants. 

“ Domestic violence is a killer of women, children and some men ,” said Executive Director Nancy Bryan of Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House .

“Domestic violence is more than somebody with a black eye. It starts from a need of someone to really control another person, and there are a million harmful ways that can happen that’s way beyond physical.”

 

She urged everyone to be “in tune with people in your world, children and grandchildren, as they develop relationships with people. Look for signs that are early in domestic violence that are controlling.”

Bryan said there are misconceptions about domestic violence, such as “Why don’t they just leave?” And “Why do they leave and then go back?”

“We love opportunities to explain all that,” she said. “We urge you to come to programs that we offer where you can learn. Educated folks are the best way we can stop domestic violence.”

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Among events are Friday Night Lights with Ruth’s Cottage information tables at football games; Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: Men’s March, Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at ABAC – call 229-387-9697 for information; and Wear Purple Day on Oct. 24.

60 YEARS STRONG: CLASS OF '59 MEETS

The Tifton High Schoo l class of 1959 held its 60th reunion last weekend. The photo above was taken at Harding Stables in Tifton .

Classmates got to reconnect and reminisce . In 1959 , top songs included "Mack The Knife"  by Bobby Darin, " Sea of Love"  by Phil Phillips, and  "La Bamba"  by Ritchie Valens.

Top movies that year included  "North by Northwest," "Gidget," and  "Ben-Hur." The BIC Crystal ballpoint pen was first sold in 1959 for 19 cents. Mattel’s Barbie doll and the board game  "Risk"  also debuted – all of which are still going strong, as is the Class of '59 .

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL HELD IN HONOR

OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS

Board members and staff of Ruth's Cottage and the Patticake House gather at the Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil with the program's speaker, Jennifer Thomas (center, in jacket).

The vigil was held Tuesday night at Southern Regional Technical College in Tifton .

CHANTICLEER PERFORMS OCT. 24

Twelve male voices will blend seamlessly in harmony when internationally acclaimed Chanticleer performs as a part of the ABAC Presents! Performing Arts Series at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Tift County High School Performing Arts Center .

Wayne Jones , Arts Connection director at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College , said the performance by the “world’s reigning male chorus” is a must-see event for all arts patrons in South Georgia .

“They are among the very best at what they do,” Jones said. “When we put together this year’s series, we knew Chanticleer was going to be one of the biggest attractions .”

Jones said the San Francisco-based performing group was on the schedule in 2018, but the performance was cancelled by Hurricane Michael .

“Just to show you what kind of impact they have, the group is the only professional choir in the United States with a 52-week contract ,” Jones said. “They are well worth the price of admission.”

Limited tickets will be available at  www.purplepass.com/abac  or call 229-391-4895 .

LIVE PRODUCTION THIS WEEKEND AT THE TIFT

The Tift Community Players' live stage production of "On Golden Pond" continues at 7 p.m. today (Friday) and Saturday at the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts on Main Street.

The 1979 play by Ernest Thompson focuses on aging couple Ethel and Norman Thayer , who spend each summer at their home on a lake called Golden Pond .

During the year the story takes place, they are visited by daughter Chelsea with her fiancé Billy Ray and his son Billy Ray Jr. The play explores the often turbulent relationship the young woman shared with her father growing up, and the difficulties faced by a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage.

HISTORY AFTER DARK

AG MUSEUM LOOKS AT 'GRAVE' TOPIC

Intrigued by historic cemeteries and the many tales they tell?

Join Barbara Clark for the History After Dark: Victorian Mourning and Grave Symbology program from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 18 , at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's Ga. Museum of Agriculture .

Clark , director of North Central & Northwest Regions of the Florida Public Archaeology Network, said guests will learn about mourning practices unique to the Victorian period. The museum’s Wesley Chapel will be transformed into a representative mourning setting and display heretofore unseen mourning artifacts .

Clark will explore the mourning practices and cultures from the Victorian era. The program will involve such items as mourning jewelry, including jet and hair jewelry, and Victorian mortuary photography. 

For information , call the Country Store at 229-391-5205 .

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

RIBBON CUTTING

STYLash Glam Bar

201 N. Central Ave., Suite F

Sept. 26

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Tifton Grapevine

e-published every Tuesday and Friday

Frank Sayles Jr.

Editor & Publisher

Bonnie Sayles

Managing Editor

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