Thank you for your response. The gist of my post was that some nonprofits are allowed to do nothing and it is a shame that the city uses tax payers dollars to support such nonprofits. And it is wrong to hold photo ops sending a message that great things are being done under the stated purpose of the nonprofit. Reclamation of the building and reclamation of people lives are two different things, and I suggest the two are commingled in this project.
I understand that The Rialto building is a huge undertaking.And you knew that at the time, you took on this project. But, the law did not say, therefore, because it is a huge undertaking, we extend such and such nonprofit to sit on the building until funding comes along. Nope, the law did not say that. I pointed out in my post what the law did say, and the fact that all nonprofits are not treated the same and the city is wrong.
Second, I don't view our international community as needy. Just folks who are in transition and need certain resources and support. I have befriended many, (I am not a nonprofit, and I am shocked at the limited support they receive from those who say they are helping these folks. Katrina (in Louisiana) really put the spotlight on nonprofits ineffectiveness in fulfilling their stated purpose. I think this was a wake up call to those donors who give their money to nonprofits expecting them to do the right thing.
Third, nonprofits receive certain tax breaks because of a stated purpose. So, the word nonprofit has a legal meaning rather than its literal meaning, some of these non profits do make a profit. Some receive donated land, donated buildings, tax payers dollars, and donated labor by volunteers,little if any comes out of the organizer pocket. And I am going to go out on the limb with this one. The restoration of the Rialto will increase the value of the property which will benefit the nonprofit. And I would suggest that the purchases of the homes benefits the nonprofit, and the tenants are not living in these homes rent free. I would go one step further and suggest that these homes are probable subsidized. The greedy tends to feed off the needs of the less fortunate. This would not be your organization structure now would it?
There are many businesses on that site that are committed to the development of that area and very little is said about these businesses, Finder's Keeper, Alberto's International Grocery Store, the car lot, La Margarita. These folks are taking a risk with their dollars and not waiting on the magic of the Rialto building. But no one is applauding them for saving the neighborhood, where the Rialto sits abandoned.
My surprise will be to see folks being served by the office that will be housed in the small office space of the old tobacco store. So do surprise me and the international community.
Below are earlier post and comment.
pussyfooting around? hardly.
for over three years, volunteers have been hard at work within the building, on the roof, and in the back alleyways digging trenches for new utilities.
this is a huge undertaking. the building was neglected for 15 years and suffered incredible water damage to the interior. much of the inside has needed complete demolition.
you're right when you say that our non-profit has little or no money; obviously the building would have been done long ago if we had it. quite the contrary, we do what we can with what we have and we're thankful for hundreds of volunteers who have come out to bring this building back to life.
while you claim that we're doing nothing, you fail to mention what the non-profit (who owns the building) is actually doing in the community. did you know that The Reclamation Project is engaged in assisting the international refugee community on a regular basis? did you know that TRP is a Community Housing Development Organization, actively engaged in purchasing and rehabing properties so that the needy can move into affordable housing? The Rialto is secondary to the lives of those being served --yes, it's important, but we can only move so fast.
You'll be excited to know that the Tobacco Road side if 95% complete and more workers will be there this weekend getting it ready for TRP to move in its offices. then you be surprised just how often that section of the building is used for a variety of purposes.
and yes, getting to the gist of this post, the City has worked with us, but do you blame them? we need their help!! we're trying to bring back a cherished landmark that is incredibly important to the South Calhoun corridor.
there is no profit in this (ergo, non-profit).. and things have not gone as quickly as we would have liked. i'm happy to enter into a conversation, though, if you want to learn more about us and what we're doing.
you can contact me at
jeff@thereclamationproject.org.
Jeff Jacobson
Yet, those who have little or no money are still pussyfooting around with renovating the Rialto. A nonprofit required to be made up of members of the neighborhood was to receive a year to renovate the building and years later the building is still under construction.
In October of 2003, The Reclamation Project finalized the purchase of the theater and the adjacent Tobacco Road store. Three additional vacant lots were also purchased for parking behind the building.This place is to offer housing assistance to international folks (sounds a little like Centlivre). It changes everyday, but nothing including, the hole in the wall Tobacco Road Store is being used for its purpose. Nothing.
