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Fairhope lays over 15‑year lease for K‑1 Center after discussion of grant support and city space
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance to lease the K‑1 Center at 106 South Church Street to the Baldwin County Community and Economic Development Foundation for 15 years at $1 per year; council moved the item to the next meeting for final adoption after discussing available grant funding and city use of space.
The Fairhope City Council opened a public hearing and introduced an ordinance to lease part of the K‑1 Center at 106 South Church Street to the Baldwin County Community and Economic Development Foundation on a proposed 15‑year lease with a minimum annual rent of $1.
Why it matters: The property involved is downtown public land and has multiple existing uses; the proposed lease would allow a county‑led economic development group to operate a small business incubator and related functions while leaving part of the building available for city use.
What council and members said: During public comment, resident Donald DeGutz asked whether the state and federal grants needed for the project — which he described as “3 and a half million dollars in total” — were secured. Mayor Sherry Sullivan answered that a portion of the building (about 3,000 square feet) would remain available to the city and said Baldwin County’s Economic Development Alliance had secured a grant to Innovate Alabama for “a little over $2,000,000” to pay for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) and other improvements inside the building.
Process and outcome: Councilmembers introduced the ordinance and, after discussion of the grant support and shared expenses, voted to lay the ordinance over for final adoption at the next council meeting rather than taking immediate final action.
Selected direct quote: Mayor Sherry Sullivan said, “There is, I think, almost 3,000 square feet that is available to the city to be able to use in this building,” and added that the county had “secured a grant to Innovate Alabama for a little over $2,000,000 where they will be doing the FF and E on the inside.”
Next steps: The ordinance will return to the council for final reading and formal adoption after the parties coordinate final replatting and documentation; the lease will not be advertised as final until required title/plat steps are completed.
