Abandoned Nursing Home Community Asset?

The building that was the Monroe Manor Nursing Home and what should be done about it was up for debate Tuesday (Dec. 8) night at the Monroe City Council meeting. The building located at 4201 S. Grand St. was on the city's proposed condemned list because it is dilapidated and a hazard to the surrounding community, according to city department heads. However, community activist Damian Coleman said that he has a group and owner Karlin Richardson who are willing to work with the city and try to make the building habitable for homeless people. Coleman, who has addressed various community issues before the city council, said that his group wants to do something about Monroe's homeless problem. The building has been abandoned for many years as it has gone through several ownership changes. Code Enforcement's Sandra Robinson said that the city has gone to environmental court, it has asbestos in it and the interior shows that the ceiling is collapsing. However, Coleman said that the building can house over a 109 homeless people, which he said was half of the number of people homeless in Monroe according to the latest figures available to him. "This is a great asset and tearing it down would be a shame", said Coleman. There are too many usages for it." He said that Council President Doug Harvey toured the building with him not long ago, but he hasn't heard from Harvey since they walked through the building.

Robinson said that she is responding to the concerns of the neighborhood, but the "situation has gone on long enough". Robinson said that (by now), someone should have stepped up to do something about the building. Coleman reminded council members that his group has just now become involved in the building's future, they are aware of its condition and are willing to take care of the issues to continue their project. After taking questions/concerns from councilmembers, the building has the potential to offer other services such as a treatment facility, if it can't be rezoned as a homeless facility. Rezoning for a homeless facility may be a "problem" according to District 1 Councilwoman Gretchen Ezernack. Ellen Hill from Zoning said the group needs to have someone to come and do a site plan, having someone to inspect the property for issues such as water lines and what the city would require for proper building standards. Ezernack said that it would be best for them to take these steps before they spend a lot of their money and then find out that they can't proceed.

Coleman said that they have taken steps to secure the building and he goes by the site every other day. Vice President Carday Marshall, who presided over the meeting (Harvey was ill) said that the group should meet with Robinson and Zoning to make sure that they understand/know what they as a group must do. Marshall said that the council wants to see the building brought back to compliance. "We want to see development and I know that they are willing to work with you, if you are willing to work with them", said Marshall. The condemnation proposal was voted on and passed to be discussed at the next city council meeting.

Photo Former Nursing home to become homeless shelter upon city council approval