Inquiry, What Happen to Subway?

It would seem that Downtown Rocky Mount last one of first business that open during the Dedication of the New Douglas Block. Yes Subway is no longer there. I guess they couldn’t make a go of it there..

Slide Show of the Douglas Festival

Douglas Block Festival

 

Photo copyrighted to James Smith (2011 (c) jamestsmith72@gmail.com)

Today I decide to attend and photography the Douglas Block and Haramabee Festival in Rocky Mount, NC. Well the work on the Douglas is almost complete, The Block looks great.

As I walk around taking photographs of the folks whom attended this event, I was saddened to see that racial lines in Rocky Mount still exists today. Douglas Block back in its early days was the hub for local African-Americans Businesses and Social life. Over time as Rocky Mount grew, many changes happen to the Douglas black and the rest of Downtown Rocky Mount.

During its golden age, the Douglas Block was brimming with economic activities and entrepreneurial spirit. It was the heart of the community. On Saturday afternoon you could find everything from clothes to doctors, food to entertainment, dancing and plenty of jazz, and see all your friends along the way. It was a community full of spirit, diversity, and an incredible hub of commerce, culture and entertainment. (to learn more click here)

Most of Downtown Rocky Mount is wore down and falling apart. The City Council decided to revive Down Town in hopes that new life would be brought back to downtown.

It was sad to see that Many of Rocky Mount white citizens didn't show up to support their city efforts to put Rocky Mount back on the map and to proudly say once again, Rocky Mount, The City on the Rise. Yes they are trying to Rise from their ashes of the past into a better future.

Downtown Festival

Harambee Festival is still going on strong. More great music and vendors have arrive, one is selling green candy apples they look so good. Those whom didn't show, you are missing a lot of fun.
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People starting to have fun

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More folks are showing up

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Downtown Festival

For a much talked about festival tied in with the grand opening of the Douglas Block not much is happening at all here. (at that time)

There is about two vendors here. Those that present are the Boys and Girl clubs of Nash and Edgecombe Counties, the food vendors, three gift type vendors and Great Healthy. With more on the way, I'm sure.

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The Douglas Block Project, is it worth the Money?

The Douglas Block is a public-private redevelopment project that will result in a thriving commercial center in Downtown Rocky Mount. Phase One of the Douglas Block calls for the renovation of six historically significant buildings, all of which comprised the African American business district of the downtown area in the early to mid-1900’s. The $8 million effort to redevelop this site has been financed by a combination of historic tax credits, new market tax credits, a Section 108 HUD Loan, and public investment. This special financing structure allows for unique and remarkable opportunities for locating your business at the Douglas Block.

Today was the so-called grand opening of this Block Happen. There was nice crowd of folks at this event.

Which by the way is noway finish at all. Yes, Most of the buildings are done and sidewalk is down, however No lamp posts are in yet, The road in front on of the Main Douglas Block Building isn't yet finish at all.  Landscaping is a joke, unless you truly love pine straw.

One of the Building have a large facade area damage, which I guess happen during the brick laying for the sidewalks, which is excellently done. So far the sidewalk are the best part of this Project..

Enjoy the Slide show...

Main Douglas Block Building Almost completed

Yes the Main Building of this Project is almost completed. As you can see it has been giving new windows and doors and roof and inside structure, and a nice fresh coat of paint.

I wonder if there any tenants signed up yet, If so how long before they move in. Since the parking lot behind the buildings isn't yet complete.. 

Work Progress on a Douglas Block Building

This shot the building has a tree growing out of it.The tree has been remove and there was some damage.The Damage area reframed and fill in with bricks from the site of the older building. Glad to see some older bricks are being reused in this project Working on the face of the building

Booker T Theater before

The Booker T Theater opened as the Savoy Theater around 1926

This is how this building look for many years before they (city) decided to redo the Douglas Block..

The Brooker T Theater

Lot of rotten wood, will they they try to save the over hang or will they completely replace it?

The Bush in the wall has been removed

Could Rocky Mount Council be ripping the citizens of RMT???

Consideration of Sale of Certain Real Property Within Phase II of the Douglas Block Redevelopment Project (106-120 East Thomas Street; 128 East Thomas Street; the parcel north of the Douglas Block Building on N.E. Main Street; and the rear of the properties on Albemarle Avenue with the addresses 244-270 and 278-296 Albemarle Avenue) @ $2,500 to Rozellali Group, LLC.

picture below 
I really hope that this group isn't getting all this property for that price if so they are ripping off the citizens of Rocky Mount and the city council approved it

UPDATE: THE PART IN RED WILL BE A PARKING LOT THE PART THAT WAS BROUGHT IS WHERE ALL THE CARS ARE. However, they are still getting it for steal of a price.One end of the block being fixed up at a tune of 10s of millions while the other ends goes for $2500.00..

Work on Douglas Block goes on

So is this work really worth the grand total of 24+ millions, by the end of 2010???

Work on Douglas Street as began

there is a slide show of the work so far

Douglas Block still not much happening

Well some building have been torn down the one they are saving have been gutted. The area look even worst now then it did with the old buildings intact. I guess more work will be done in the up coming year.. I can only hope that the City does something before the annual DownEast Festival, even more Building boarded up, looking very grim downtown, If I didn't know better I would swear that downtown Rocky Mount is a new training ground the Military.