Be gone with this eyesore

If nearly $ 5 million of federal stimulus money is going to be spent on Watermark Tower renovations in downtown Anniston, then expect grandiose results.

In other words, don’t foul this thing up.

Oh, it’s not that this page doesn’t trust most of the players in this latest development with Anniston’s embarrassing 11-story eyesore.  Some of those involved in this project, most notably the Anniston Water Works and the Calhoun County Commission, have shown to be good stewards of this region’s resources.

Nevertheless, too much time has passed — and too much public frustration has fomented — to continue with a passive, wait and-see approach on a revitalization project that could mean the world for downtown Anniston.

Yeah, sure, Annistonians have heard this before. It’s no surprise that many have become immune to our often-urgent calls for movement on the historic building’s rebirth. Those who hold serious hopes for the Noble Street corridor have been praying for a savior for the building since its top floor burned in 2003.

That savior may exist in the form of $4.9 million in stimulus funded bonds that the County Commission has allocated for some of the needed renovations. For years — and during the worst recession of our lifetime — the building’s owners have sought private financing that would move the project forward.

Given that the recession is still affecting key parts of the financial sector, the importance of securing federal stimulus money for this project can’t be emphasized too much.

While the timing of this project gives us slight pause — particularly concerns that the Anniston City Council may not have had ample time to vet the details — the fundamental issues appear sound. Let’s applaud the decision to earmark this money for downtown Anniston’s improvement.

Which brings us back to expectations.

The Watermark Tower isn’t just Anniston’s tallest building. Sitting at the original center of the city — the corner of Noble and 10th streets — the building first known as the Liles Building when built in the 1920s holds architectural value and historic importance.

It also holds immense modern-day potential.

If anything, a Watermark Tower that’s filled with office-space tenants alters the landscape of the city’s downtown. It shows life and vitality, not damage and decay. It brings more residents to Noble Street, which can breed success for downtown businesses such as restaurants and stores that rely on walk-in traffic.

And the kicker: It removes that scarred eyesore from the city’s meager skyline. The Spirit of Anniston should hold a Noble Street block party whenever that charred landmark is transformed into an enticing visual image.

A renovated Watermark Tower is a must for Anniston. It can’t happen soon enough.