Friends of Mt. Zion Institute
Friends of Mt. Zion Institute
P. O. Box 203
Winnsboro, SC 29180
ph: 803-781-4558
alt: 803-815-4422
fomzi
Updates
NEWEST NEWS
FEBRUARY 2016
Our first 18 months of ownership brought participation in several fundraising events showcased on this page and several projects also featured here. We're proud to have successfully begun the process of improving both the appearance of the property, its safety and its readiness for renovation. The preservation process is not a fast one, likewise the development aspect of adaptive reuse.
Our agreement with the Town of Winnsboro was to meet their ordinance for "dangerous buildings" by 18 months, which arrived in September 2015. At that time, the Town hired an independent building inspector to conduct a study of the buildings.That report contained nothing that we didn't know already and in no way called for immediate drastic measures; however, it did lend itself to interpretation and provide some weight to the position of those within the Town ranks who have been resistant all along to preserving the MZI buildings. FOMZI disagrees wholeheartedly that the report justifies Council's next step of advising us of their intent to take the buildings back and demolish (remember, we've had engineering studies and recent contractor inspections that declare the building imminently suitable for renovation). HOWEVER, we did agree to Town's take-it-or-leave-it conditions and they are within that right to act accordingly. At the same time that we met with them, we told them of early but strong interest from a developer who had already made two trips from Alabama to inspect the site and buildings.
Council did grant us a 60-day grace period for that developer, or another, to come to the table. That's where we are now: trying to get that accomplished at either of the two February Council meetings. The interest is definitely strong and many people are working feverishly to solidify it into a feasible development plan. Whether there's time to actually put it together remains to be seen. Typically, these things take months, not weeks. This is not a FOMZI partnership thing, so the most we can do is stand by and watch. And hope.
We do know that preliminary discussion has involved residential use. That has never been FOMZI's focus for the buildings but has consistently been mentioned as the most appropriate in terms of success, need and viability. The property is NOT a candidate for subsidized housing grants due to its distance from criteria like grocery stores but IS suitable for market rate residential units, and the developer is, we're told, looking at various sizing options to meet the needs of Winnsboro's older, retired population who are currently having to relocate in other communities to find manageable living options such as smaller homes, independent living communities and facilities, or assisted living options because they don't have family nearby. The property is a good candidate for both Federal and State historic tax credits, which makes it attractive to a developer who knows how to utilize such funding means. This one has several completed rehabs of old buildings that Council can look to as examples and we hope they'll have that chance in the coming weeks and will be willing to do so.
Again, thanks to you who have encouraged us since 2008. We still believe in our cause and believe in Winnsboro's chance for a brighter future, one step at a time, one project after another.
MAY 2015
May was a busy month, with two fundraisers nearly back-to-back. FOMZI participated in the regional Midlands Gives online day of giving, raising nearly $2000 in spite of supporters' unfamiliarity with this means of donating. Then, it was quickly on to our Home and Garden Tour, a huge success in every way. Everyone attending loved the town and tour, MZI drew needed new interest, and we cleared over $3000 for the project. Vist the photo page for the Tour album.
APRIL 2015
COMPLETE! Weeks of hard work by our industrious Board and volunteers produced 147 individual, handpainted faux panels for closing in the front windows. This had both an aesthetic and practical purpose - dramatically improved the appearance of the building and began the drying in process. The rear windows would follow when adequate ventilation is determined, to eliminate the likelihood of mold or mildew becoming a problem. For more photos of the work in progress, visit our photo page here.
MARCH 2015
The first months of the new year gave FOMZI time to assess where we stand in the project and take a look at what has - and has not - been accomplished in the year since we took over the buildings. The need to move along with the drying-in of the buildings was obvious, and our original window project was stalled due to time constraints and winter weather. Never ones to give up, supporters gathered this month and began the project again, resulting in closure of all the front first-floor windows!
A dry classroom roof and window closure underway allows us to turn our attention and funds to the dire need for roof repair of the auditorium. This will be a more extensive and expensive undertaking - estimates and bids are nearly double what we'd hoped for, so fundraising is more important than ever. Our most ambitious event so far is coming up in May - a wonderful Home and Garden Tour of eleven notable properties in Winnsboro and Ridgeway on May 16. We'll also participate in this year's Midlands Gives day of online giving on May 5th. Go to the EVENT page on this site for more information and to the PHOTOS page for more pictures.
DECEMBER 2014\
FOMZI held or participated in a run of fundraising events through summer and fall, plus continued grounds improvements and appearance projects. A Barbecue and Curiosity sale, held on MZI grounds, was a fun event and netted our coffers enough to cover mowing and maintenance through the end of the year. We provided information and membership sign-up booths at Arts on the Ridge in Ridgeway and Rock Around the Clock Festival, and participated in the annual 43-Mile Big Grab yard sale that wound through Fairfield County.
A sample of the faux windows was installed on the classroom building and, thanks to a recent donation from Boise Cascade, we have enough plywood to do the whole front of the building. Erstwhile volunteers have been recruited and that project will soon be well underway.
Another kind gift came to us during the summer .... a grand piano for future use in the auditorium. Donors Polly Parker and Betty Gutschlag will house it in the interim and we'll feature it in musical fundraising events.
Another piece of progress to note is the individual work of three support volunteers with a particular interest in the Teacherage residence on campus. Many thanks to the Praser family, who have repaired and refinished the now beautiful front double doors and will continue to clean out and improve where they can. We love their initiative!
FOMZI has also been happy to have volunteer help with our National Historic Register application. Suzanne Johnson and two USC history grad students, Britney Ghee and Max Iberman, are putting the final touches on the architectural descriptive part of the application. Detail and documentation are key and we are grateful to this trio for their work!
Last, but not least, we've had good reports from the Town and compliments from many others about our upkeep of the grounds through the summer growing season. For that, our thanks must go to Lee Renwick, who has been dedicated and consistent. Add a duo of Cathcart men to those thanks. The old unsightly walkway covers are gone, gone!
JUNE 23, 2014
Work on the classroom roof finished up this month. The project involved stabilization of the existing roof structure and a special water-proof coating that will prevent further water intrusion into the building and allow us to begin the "dry-out" before closing in the windows. As we enter that phase we've focused on event fundraising to provide more funds for the window project (mostly cosmetic in nature at this point) and to allow us to begin a similar stabilization of the auditorium roof. We erected a project sign on the grounds and engaged regular grounds maintenance, as well as arranging for a security system on-site.
DECEMBER 16, 2013
Friends of Mt. Zion Institute received and has accepted the Town's formal offer of the MZI buildings. Several matters remain to be handled on both ends before the transfer can take place and we anticipate those will be fiinalized and the deed filed at or around year's end. Roofing bids and insurance quotes are being received and material for window work is being arranged for.
Our Board is realigning for the task ahead and seeking potential members with much-needed expertise in all aspects of the project. A new member classification is in the works to open FOMZI to a larger number of people and provide a wider base to assist with the various committees that will be needed, plus to share the fun! Stay tuned for more information.
NOVEMBER 2013
Winnsboro Town Council has voted to give the Mt. Zion buildings to Friends of Mt. Zion Institute!
After a summer and early fall of delays and concern about Council's ultimate decision about Mt. Zion, FOMZI again had to make a strong show of commitment to the project, including asking outright for the buildings and the opportunity to rehabilitate them. A step-by-step description of our efforts is shown on our Facebook page (linked HERE) and news coverage is provided on the LINKS page of this site.)
More details and plans will follow after we get the official offer and proposal, but we are elated and so appreciative of all who stepped up, spoke out, made contact, and wouldn't give up. Thank YOU! And THANK YOU to Town Council for taking another look at the potential this project has for our town/ county and giving us the chance to make it happen. We'll do our best!
MAY 2013
Good news! The uncertainties of the past few months are behind us. The Town of Winnsboro has received the Mt. Zion property back from RedClay and wasted no time making improvements to the grounds. Within a day, Town crews were on the site with heavy equipment and manpower, removing extensive overgrowth that remained after our own volunteer work was suspended due to the negotiations. Bushes, roots, and vines came down and were hauled off. Grass was not only mowed but curbs and walks trimmed and herbicide applied to retard regrowth of the invasive vines. The result gives us a peek of what the property CAN look like in the future! Be sure to check out the video (linked on this page) showing our volunteers hard at work in January, followed by the Town crews’ massive effort just a week or so ago. The Town has also added Mt. Zion to its broad pest control program, and exterior traps have been set. We’ve all understood the concerns that neighbors have had and do believe that elimination of the foliage growth and implementation of the pest control will address at least some of those issues.
Thanks to these actions by the town, the first two points of our commitment are completed more quickly than we’d dared hope; and the next steps can begin as soon as FOMZI and the Town develop a solid understanding and plan. We’re encouraged by the positive dialog thus far and anticipate continued discussions to iron out our roles for the future. Such government-nonprofit partnerships can be structured any number of ways and no two are ever alike; the main thing is to leverage each partner’s resources toward the common goal, understand the differences in our roles , communicate and find the best ways to work together. We’ll be employing ongoing work sessions to establish the relationship and hope that more partners – nonprofit and/or governmental – will eventually play a part.
For now, know that positive things are happening and that the Mt. Zion campus looks better than it has in quite a while. Next up is to move on to structural concerns like roof and windows to dry in the buildings and pave the way to interior rehabilitation. The economy is improving, Blair School of Art is still verbally committed, other inquiries are coming in, and we continue to see the campus as part of both an economic and cultural revitalization for the community.
Our funds will take us into the next stretch of work and we’ll continue to seek private donations (tax-deductible!) as well as grants and sponsorships. We also welcome in-kind donations of time, construction or fund-raising expertise, and goods like exterior-grade plywood that can be used with the windows. The list of needs will grow as we go!
As ever, thank to you all who’ve kept the faith and interest going.
http://youtu.be/JY2iLCQhU6Q or see Home Page at top. The result:
Photo taken May 7, 2013, right after Council meeting. Do we believe in "signs"? We do now!
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JANUARY 2013 – Council announced that it will take the buildings back from RedClay, stating that they look forward to working with Friends of MZI on continuing the project.
FOMZI invited the Mayor and Council Members to the first meeting of the year and informally discussed the project’s change from a private/non-profit endeavor to a public/non-profit one and what will be needed from the parties. The discussion was encouraging and will be on-going. While the finalities of the separation of the Town and developer take place, FOMZI is scheduling and taking bids on the outlined work to initially take place.
We thank RedClay and James Maynard for their consistent efforts with Mt. Zion and recognize that we saw much that others did not see. Nonetheless, we are optimistic about the Town’s support and assistance and eagerly anticipate visible changes at Mt. Zion in the near future.
Our pledge donors have come through honorably and magnificently! We invite others to join them! Sincere thanks to the following donors:
Pledge Drive Donors Through 1/6/2013
Wildcat Donors (up to $500)
Vern & Pat Amick
Keith Brewington
Bonnie Brice
John C. Buchanan III
Callie C. Bell
Thad Cotton
Barbara J. Douglas
Lynne Douglass
Sam & Patsy Edenfield
John J. Fantry, Jr.
Carver Almand Farrar
Patricia Green
Betty Gutschlag
John Hollis
Annie McLeod Jenkins
Jane McM. Litton
Mary Jane K. McDonald
Martha E. Meyer
Brenda Miller
Margaret Parker
H. G. & Hannah Phillips
Lucinda M. Shirley
Nelle McCants Smith
Jeanette Norman Starnes
Jimmy & Ivor Stephenson
Cathryn Cathcart Thomas
Joanne Watson Trotter
F. J. Weed
Travis M. Weldon
Nancy M. Williams
Tusitala Donors (up to $2500)
Vicki Dark Dodds
Margaret Fant
Winifred McMaster
Kitt McMaster
MZI Guardians (above $25,000)
Anonymous
THANK YOU ALL!
Friends of Mt. Zion Institute
P. O. Box 203
Winnsboro, SC 29180
ph: 803-781-4558
alt: 803-815-4422
fomzi