Bell tower demolition goes forward

By Debbie Glover
Published on Monday, February 25, 2008 9:26 AM CST

Print this story | Email this story | Post A Comment |

St. Tammany News

The old bell tower at the Greater Covington Center on North Jefferson Avenue, formerly the First Baptist Church of Covington, has sounded its death knell.

The bell tower demolition was approved and added to the 2008 Covington budget at a City Council budget hearing Oct. 23, 2007, when it was determined the tower could be demolished for about $5,000.

City workers Ronald Marigny and Clarence Coleman, operating the backhoe, gather bricks in front of the Greater Covington Center. The rubble is what is left of the bell tower of the First Baptist Church of Covington, which used to occupy the site. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

Safety and security issues were reasons given at that time for the need for the demolition. Lack of a suitable way to light the tower for security and safety at night, falling bricks and the "attractive nuisance" the tower presented to children wanting to climb it were all reasons the tower should come down, according to Greater Covington Center Manager Jarme Martino.

The city had kept the tower because of demolition costs to remove it. Once the demolition cost problems were solved, monies were allocated in this year's budget for the removal.

Improvement plans for the Greater Covington Center include new signage that will advertise upcoming events and a courtyard where patrons can gather during intermissions, Martino said.

Print this story | Email this story | Post A Comment |

Comments

1 comment(s)

unknown wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:35 PM:

" thank you for getting it off the street "

WRITE A COMMENT

Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.

Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. They review submitted comments periodically during the day for offensive or off-topic content before posting. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The St. Tammany News is not liable for messages from third parties.

DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
* Personal Information (phone numbers, addresses, etc.)

Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in thesttammanynews.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the St. Tammany News. The St. Tammany News does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized St. Tammany News spokespersons.

Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.