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Bronner is being a bully over building David Bronner has been a great asset to Alabama. Even discounting the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, the refurbishing of downtown Montgomery and Mobile and the many other investments the Retirement Systems of Alabama has made in the infrastructure of our state, Bronner's stewardship improving the solvency of our public retirement systems has been his greatest accomplishment. Preservationists and historians in the Capital City were initially pleased that the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) plan to purchase the old State Judicial Building, laden with asbestos and abandoned for the past 15 years. But after viewing renderings of the 12-story office structure to be built over and behind the building, first constructed as a Scottish Rite Temple in 1926 and sold to the state in the late 1930's to house the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Attorney General, that initial opinion has changed dramatically. Last week at an open forum, held at the Montgomery Area Landmarks Foundation, opponents of the RSA venture vented their disapproval of the proposal. I must admit that after viewing the renderings of the proposed structure, I don't like it either. But in defending their project, RSA officials have acted like a "bully on the block" toward those who believe the proposed structure, which will dwarf the historic capitol building, should be altered so as not to ruin the view of the capitol along Dexter Avenue. The following quotes are public statements by RSA CEO Dr. Bronner: • "If there is some little lady who can't see the Capitol from Dexter Avenue, I don't care," • "Everything I have done in this town, I have been criticized for." • "The plan is likely to tick off historic preservation groups", but he "doesn't care." • "Montgomery lacks first-class office space and if I've got to rough up a historic building to create it, I'm ready to take the heat. • "It (the building} has been vacant for 15 years. The preservationists have had 15 years to work on it, and they haven't done a thing." • "We made concessions by not knocking the building down altogether. The decision to save the original building was prompted by its history. It was used by the court's first female justice, and its first black justice." (Ed's Note: Besides Justice Janie Shores and the late Justice Oscar Adams, to whom I believe Dr. Bronner was referring, the first female judge to serve on a state appellate court, Judge Annie Lola Price, also worked there). • "The building's library and justice chambers are usable. Everything else is shot. Everything is worthless from door brass to toilets. I decided to build a new building." And more from his deputy, Marc Reynolds: • "With just about every development we have had, people have objected to it. We have tried to work with them when we can. They are a difficult group to deal with." • "They (the preservationists) don't have enough money to do anything they want to do," but once you try to do something, they want to come tell you how you have to do it. They're raising the issue long after they should have done so." Historical and preservation groups like the Landmarks Foundation have told me they were not aware of the RSA's plans prior to the early December revelation by RSA. These groups have been respectful and merely want to try and persuade RSA to alter the building by setting it back some from Dexter Avenue to keep the view of the capitol building as unrestricted as possible. And one has to wonder why RSA is in such a rush to build a building that Dr. Bronner says won't make them a penny. It is also troubling to see Dr. Bronner and others at RSA so disrespectful of those who don't agree with them on this issue. Such remarks as those above are really unnecessary and do not reflect well on Bronner or the RSA. Construction, I believe, should be halted to give Alabama citizens an opportunity to voice their approval or objection to the project. While I personally object to the RSA design, I believe the project could be altered to satisfy most objections of the groups that have been outspoken on the matter. Construction of the building is not an urgent matter so why not do it right and give the taxpayers some input. On the other hand, it wouldn't bother me if the building was demolished and a park designed in its place. Dr. Bronner says the structure is virtually worthless and even though I worked in and out of it for about 20 years, I see no great historic value in it. A park would suit me fine. There are plenty of other sites for a 12-story office complex.
Bob Martin is editor and publisher of The Montgomery Independent and is proud to have served the state long enough to be on Dr. Bronner's payroll and hopes he remains there after this column is published. E-mail him at: bob@montgomeryindependent.com.
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