City of Tuskegee Looking to Acquire Town Square Property
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A property fight in Tuskegee. City leaders have condemned the city square, which is owned by the Daughters of the Confederacy.The square contains a statue of a confederate soldier but city officials want ownership of the property and the statue relocated.
The Tuskegee City Council has voted to condemn the town square.
“Because the town square is owned by the Daughters of the Confederacy,” said Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford.
Although the daughters own the property, which houses a statue of a confederate soldier, it’s the city that maintains it. Ford said the city has invested thousands of dollars in keeping it up.
“So questions have been raised, why are you spending public money on a piece of property that is now owned by the city of Tuskegee?”
Ford wants the statue moved to a museum or a confederate cemetary and he wants to use the property for more parking, another roadway, or a public park.
Some Tuskegee residents are on board.
“It can be moved and I would like for it to be moved because we need the road cut through here,” said Tuskegee resident Roy Woods. “We done had several accidents that I witnessed right here with the 18-wheelers coming up here.”
But the Daughters of the Confederacy aren’t ready to give up the property just yet. In an email to Mayor Ford, Alabama Division President Linda Edwards says she’s she’s called a meeting to discuss the property issue. She says “Once we have this meeting, I will get back in touch with you and discuss how the ladies feel.”
Although Ford says he doesn’t want conflict, he’s not taking no for an answer.
“The thing to do would be for them to simply donate it back to the city for a dollar or if they do not wish to do that, then we will proceed with condemnation and the courts can determine the fair market share.”
