Sorry for the vague post (had grandchildren) and lost my mind:_This is part of the original email I received and dint know what was being asked: How is St. Augustines Harmony Hall worth 26 million dollars.The place of Trick Robinsons Last Fundraisers... I understand was worth 26 mil..to the State in Grant, money. Not free..that Grant money was covered by the State of Marylands, tax payers. WTH down there is WORTH anything NEAR 26mil? I finally figures it out that in trying to cut budgets that Bel Alton school is being taken back- so I think the argument is we buy a white mansion that had slaves for $26 million but will not keep Bel Alton School open- a black school from segregation times. (hence the link). There are some problems that have happened with bel Alton that I had gleaned in the past from newspapers: Not accting to the County the incoming an outgoing expenses. Not paying bills that the County has had to pick up. and not really fulfilling the mission successfully- these are thing they demand from each non-profit that gets County money and the non-profits have to provide. So there has been special treatment. The County leases it to Bel Alton Org for $1 per year. Here is the plea- a rally is being planned: Janice Wilson Yesterday at 10:44am · Waldorf, MD · At the request of Joan Jones, President of the Bel Alton High School Community Development Center (CDC), I was given authority by her to post this letter regarding the closing of Bel Alton. A long posting but worth reading every word. HISTORIC BEL ALTON HIGH SCHOOL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND African-American history in Charles County is experiencing a major, unprecedented challenge, and we, the Bel Alton High School Community Development Corporation (“Bel Alton High School CDC”), are making a community “call for action!” The circumstances surrounding our possession and control of the Bel Alton High School Community Development Center require priority attention and major legal assistance. We are therefore required to seek donations from members and friends to establish a Legal Defense Fund in order to save this historic school. We are currently in the process of retaining a law firm to help us resolve a dispute with the County Commissioners so that we can continue serving the community in our former all black high school, which we rescued from being torn down by the County in the early 1990s. Bel Alton High School was in existence from 1938 until the integration of schools in Charles County in 1965. It is located in Bel Alton, Maryland, a village about six miles south of La Plata. The school property consists of 12.67 acres of land and has 35,200 square feet of space. There are two structures on the property: the main school building consisting of 18,800 square feet and an adjacent gymnasium and industrial arts shop consisting of 16,400 square feet. The Bel Alton High School Community Development Corporation underwent an incredible fundraising effort and renovated the landmark school using mainly state and federal grants, and a USDA guaranteed loan of $1,450,000.00. In total, the Bel Alton High School CDC spent $5,870,822.14 over six years toward renovating the school and preserving its legacy. Renovation of our Community Development Center was completed in 2008, at which time we received a Certificate of Occupancy and moved into the building. The Center serves a target population of low and moderate income families, children and seniors. Programs and services include jobs creation, employment assistance, arts and crafts, health education, dental services, a banquet room and catering services. We have a variety of fundraising activities in play to help fund our operating costs. Our County Commissioners have now given us a mere 10 days to pay them $211,966.22, by January 18, 2015, which the County states it has paid on our behalf toward the property’s mortgage and utilities. The Commissioners have made it clear they plan to evict us from the building on Tuesday, January 20, 2015, despite all the hard work and effort the Bel Alton High School Community Development Corporation has put into preserving the historic school. Not having the funds the County demands at this time, the Bel Alton High School CDC must secure legal assistance. We need your help! As a result of our work, the County took the liberty of using our grant funds, later partially reimbursed, to secure for itself a public water and sewer system which was not in our original plan. Only a single replacement well for the Bel Alton property was planned as we were told the original well was inadequate to serve both Jude House and Bel Alton. We receive no residual fees from the public water and sewer system that now also serves Jude House and Chapel Point Woods, a subdivision with previously contaminated water. The loan of $1,450,000 we had to borrow to complete the renovation may not have been necessary if our original plan for a replacement well had been followed. All of our other funds were grant funds, not subject to repayment. The County Commissioners will now also have a formerly worthless School they were going to tear down, now worth millions, to use as they see fit. Let us see if Bel Alton High School will continue to be used by the County Commissioners to honor the heritage and legacy of African Americans in Charles County. If they do, why not allow us to continue doing the same? Why evict us from Bel Alton High School on January 20, 2015, the day after the County Commissioners attend the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Breakfast to show their support for his commitment to racial justice? Where is the racial justice in Charles County for Bel Alton alumni and friends? Bel Alton High School is recognized by the Maryland Historical Trust and the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission as a Historic Landmark because of its importance to African American history and culture in Charles County. While no application has been made, the school may possibly be eligible for recognition as a National Historic Landmark where it could be afforded more protection from an adverse action such as is being planned by the Charles County Commissioners. The Charles County Commissioners have planned an abrupt taking of Bel Alton High School for uses unrelated to African American history and culture in Charles County, which constitutes an adverse action. Notably, the school was primarily renovated with federal and state grants, not County funds. The Bel Alton Board believes we do not owe the County money; if anything, the County may owe us money. In good faith, we took a dilapidated building that we loved, and which the County was going to tear down, and put our heart, soul and personal finances into it for over 20 years, as well as millions of state and federal dollars. We made Bel Alton High School a place of pride for the entire community of Charles County. We would greatly appreciate your donation to our Legal Defense Fund, in addition to your support and use of the historic school through its various community programs and the hosting of both public and private events. The landmark school now houses a beautiful community center and, after being lovingly restored in an effort to honor the heritage and contributions of African Americans in Charles County, is open to the public. The Bel Alton High School Community Development Corporation is a non-profit, 501(C)(3) organization. Our members have served as volunteers for the restoration and maintenance of the school for over 20 years. We need our community’s support now more than ever! We would be pleased to be joined by others who can help us preserve the school’s heritage, and to better serve the community of Charles County at large. Please make donations payable to our Historic Bel Alton High School Legal Defense Fund, that may be mailed to Bel Alton High School Community Development Corporation, P.O. Box 2614, La Plata, MD 20646, or through PayPal at belaltonalumnicdc.org. For additional information on the school or our organization, feel free to browse our website, call any Board Member, or call me directly at 301-752-0097. Thank you, The Bel Alton Board of Directors Joan Jones, ACSW, President .................................................................................................................................... Chapman landing was bought by the State for $26 million. This is primarily for the forest land which is pristine- 2000 acres historic house which at that time considered a mansion. No County money is used to furnish or refurbish the mansion- there is a friends group that iis doing that. It pretty mush has been left as bought. (: The 2,180 acre tract of land i. In 1998 it was purchased by the State of Maryland with the help of conservation partners for approximately $28 million. The purpose of the acquisition was to provide opportunities for appropriate public uses, while protecting the property’s outstanding resource values. 1998 long before the present board was in office and before Bel Alton as I understand. The plan in this document has not been followed such as rehab of the mansion. That has fallen on a group of volunteers that formed a Board. The mansion can be rented for events - all furniture there has been donated and slowly acquired. Any other restoration would fall on volunteers- all trials have been formed and maintained by volunteers as I understand it. It was slated for dense development and a marina on delicate land. The land was used first by native Americans. If archeology could ever be funded I bet they would find a wealth of artifacts. This is all very old growth forest and one tree- I dont know which one is the oldest found in SMD./ or maybe it was size. So one difference in price was the amount of land acquired for a State Park. Developers still have heartburn over it- they still envision their marina and million dollar homes in an exclusive community. Insead a huge part of our County was treasured. Part of the Technology Park they talked about the other night was 50 acres given free by the County. I dont know all the details maybe Candice would. It is called Chapmans Landing and the house is Mt Aventine.) Doc: dnr.state.md.us/forests/chapmansforest/2003chapmanfinal.pdf
Posted on: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 22:52:09 +0000
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