TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee organization wants to transform a historic Frenchtown property into a museum.
The Big Bend Community Development Corporation could get more than $800,000 in grant money to move the project along but first, the proposal needs city and county approval.
The request comes with some criticism.
The Big Bend CDC owes the city nearly half a million dollars in loans over several years, and that's not sitting well with one city commissioner.
The organization wants to turn the Ashmore property on the corner of Brevard and Macomb streets into a museum.
To get that property, the Big Bend CDC took out a $250,000 loan. The group hasn't made a payment on that loan and now, the interest bumps the debt to $343,000.
There's also $120,000 left on a loan to build infill homes in Frenchtown.
Commissioner Gil Ziffer called for an audit on the Big Bend CDC four years ago. He said he doesn't think more taxpayer money should go towards their new venture.
"The first thing is I think it's a great project, and we need to see something happen with the Ashmore building, but we need to be a little more mindful of who's getting that money," Ziffer explained, "and the Big Bend CDC has demonstrated in the past that they're not very good about following through with their commitments."
We also spoke to the director of the Big Bend CDC. He said the organization reached an agreement with the city two years ago about how and when to pay off the debt.
The director said the Big Bend CDC has already paid back $752,000 in total for the loans its taken from the city. He said the organization hasn't defaulted on any city loan and is committed to paying every cent of debt back.
"We're very comfortable with our plan. The city has worked great, and there's a concise plan in place along with solid funding that has already been delivered to the city, " said Robert Nixon, the executive director of the Big Bend Community Development Corporation, "and our expectation is that by the next four to six months, we'll have the remaining balances paid off."
The organization said money from leases at the new Casanas Village complex will pay off the balance of a loan to build infill housing in Frenchtown.
