YOUR SOURCE OF NEWS IN SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY, ALABAMA May 23, 2019 | Volume 4, Issue 17
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Selma Mall sells for $800K BY CHICO CLEVELAND Selma Sun Staff
Selma Mall, once a thriving commercial property, recently found itself on the clearance rack. The mall is now in escrow following the Ten-X.com auction last month that ended with a bid of $800,000. The exact details of the deal and buyer will be made available after escrow has been closed. The 316,412-square-foot mall was built on the eightacre site on Highland Avenue in 1970 at the height of popularity of shopping malls in America. The growth of online shopping has chipped away at brick-and-mortar stores
everywhere, including Selma Mall. The mall still has anchor tenants Belk, GNC, Hibbett Sports, Footlocker, Citi Trends and Le Nails. But with more than 30 vacant stores, the mall has a lean and hungry look. “We’re watching and wishing for the best,” said Linda Hahn, whose family has owned and operated specialty nail salon Le Mails in the same location for over 25 years. “We love Selma and love being here in the mall. All of our loyal customers know we’re here, and we’d love to continue to service our community for many more years to come.” Selma Mall is located at 1391 East Highland Avenue.
The Selma Mall is almost 50 years old and sold recently for $800,000. Photo provided.
With carnival and new community center, Edmundite Missions breathes new life into downtown Selma BY FRED GUARINO Selma Sun
On May 31, Selma's Edmundite Missions' Center of Hope lawn will be site of a free old-fashioned carnival where the whole community can come together in a safe space to relax and enjoy one another. But, this December, Edmundite Missions will deliver a bigger gift to the people of Selma when it completes its new $3.2 million, 16,000-square-foot community center in the heart of downtown. A from-scratch project of this size in downtown Selma is expected to serve as a catalyst for more development in the heart of Selma. Edmundite Missions President and CEO Chad
McEachern says it will also be a safe haven for Selma. "Having multiple activities under one roof will allow for more coordinated programming and a safe place to fellowship as a community," McEachern said. The new center, named the Dr. and Mrs. Michael Bullock Community Center, is being built at 1428 Broad Street at the site of the current Edmundite Missions Administrative Offices. "We imagine this as a true community center where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together,” McEachern said of the new structure. “The Missions is so excited to bring a dignified Community Center back to the heart of Selma." The Fifth Annual Community Festival set for 11
a.m. May 31 at Center of Hope on Broad Street provides the whole community with music, food and games. And Edmundite Missions plans to grow the festival, both in number of attendees and activities each year. This year, a petting zoo and video game truck have been added, in addition to the past favorites: Kona Ice, hamburgers, hot dogs, carnival style games, bouncy house, face painting and music. Providing a fun, safe space to gather together is what McEachern said the day is all about. Last year some 2,000 people attended the festival. “It’s been a joy to see so many people come together year after year,” McEachern said. “We are just incredibly thankful for the chance to share what
Stewart Construction’s work on a $3 million community center for Edmundite Missions is a welcome site in downtown Selma. Photo by Fred Guarino
Edmundite Missions is hosting its Fifth Annual Community Festival at 11 a.m. May 31 with music, food and games at Center of Hope on Broad Street. Photo provided
we are about. To see everyone smiling and enjoying being together makes all the hard work of planning the festival worth it.” When the community center is completed in December, all programming will move there, including an education center for after school activities and the senior program. Built by Stewart Construction, the building will include a regulation-sized basketball court, locker room, concession stand, weight room and two classrooms, which will house a computer lab. A landscaped courtyard will be on the property also. "With this new state-of-theart community recreational facility, we look forward to enhancing our ministry of accompaniment while continuing our mission of anticipating and responding to the needs of our community, something we have done for over 80 years," McEachern said. "This building is a physical reaffirmation of our commitment to serving all those that turn to us for help and hope." Also, he said the new community center is breathing new life into downtown.
"As we have for over 81 years, the Missions focuses on investing in the lives of those in poverty. Our investment, along with other projects such as the St. James Hotel renovation, are providing a boost to our downtown which is a benefit for all who live and work in Selma." He said they are proud to be on the front lines of reinvesting in the community as a Catholic non-profit. “As long as our services can create solutions for even one family in poverty, it will be a worthwhile investment. I believe we are at the start of a strong period of renewal for Selma," he said. On the Edmundite Missions’ website, McEachern sums it up saying, “We are blessed with so many caring supporters like Dr. and Mrs. Bullock, and the thousands of benefactors who make our work possible. They allow us to feed the hungry, clothe and shelter the cold and homeless and bring the corporal works of mercy Jesus speaks about in the book of Matthew to some of the most poverty-stricken people in America."
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