Main Street endorses FAMU request (updated with letter to FAMU)

The Main Street Crestview Association Board of Directors voted at their monthly meeting Thursday night to endorse the FAMU request to use the Alatex building as a pharmacy school.

Local engineer and former private business owner Marc Mason said more than $250,000 already has been spent on the building in the last seven years, and it could cost $4 million to renovate it.

The Main Street board voted unanimously to send the letter of endorsement to the Crestview City Council, and also to send a letter to FAMU President Dr. James Ammons urging a prompt reply to questions about the project sent by the council earlier this week.

Below is the letter to Dr. Ammons

Dear President Ammons;
The members of the Board of Directors of the Main Street Crestview Association at their regular monthly meeting on Thursday July 17, 2008 unanimously approved sending a letter to the Crestview City Council (copy attached) expressing our support and asking for the council’s prompt action on your request. We also voted unanimously to write you regarding the FAMU request to use our city’s Historic Alatex building for a School of Pharmacy Graduate School.
We are an organization totally committed to the development of the Main Street area of the City of Crestview. Our membership consist of representatives from Main Street businesses but also other businesses, corporations, and individuals from the community at large.
Senator Peaden spoke to the Council at their regular meeting Monday night and emphasized the need for prompt action.
A quick response is needed to the questions submitted to you by the City Council earlier this week. We encourage FAMU to have a response with detailed answers delivered to the city’s Administrative Services Department by Thursday or Friday of next week so that it can be placed in the council member’s packages of documents to review.
Once work gets underway on the Alatex Building we sincerely hope that local firms will have the opportunity to bid on the project(s) so some of that economic impact can start coming to our city.
A copy showing the Main Street Crestview Association’s mission statement, vision statement and plan of work goals is enclosed. I am sure you will agree that we will have a mutual interest in the success of FAMU-Crestview.

Cordially,
Mickey Rytman, President
Main Street Crestview Association