Postell’s ‘Great wall’ idea not a bad one

Ward VI Commissioner Tommie Postell has asked Mayor Dorothy Hubbard to add an item to the City Commission’s next work session to discuss the feasibility of erecting some sort of fence along Clark Avenue to shield the public from the remnants of Mimosa Trailer Park.

“It’s really just disturbing,” Postell said after the meeting. “We have people driving along Clark Avenue every day and that’s what they see. We have a brand new Walmart in one block and blight on the next.”

Mimosa, which would seem a better fit in Baghdad than on one of the city’s most well-traveled thoroughfares, has long been a thorn in Ward I Commissioner Jon Howard’s side.

It’s Howard’s persistence against slum and blight that has brought six mobile-home owners within the park to court.

But despite the city’s best efforts, the park still remains a living example of visual pollution. And each day, truckers from Cordele Road and Sylvester Road use that portion of Clark Avenue to hop onto the Liberty Expressway.

MillerCoors executives visiting Albany drive by it on the way to the plant.

Passersby from near and far drive, walk and bike on that two-block stretch of blight.

A privacy fence along the city right-of-way could be problematic. Clark Avenue is, according to some, likely a state highway, which would mean the commission would have to get the approval of the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect any kind of barrier.

And even if the city did get the OK, long, flat fences often tend to be perfect urban canvasses for gang members and graffiti artists.

So, if the commission deems it feasible and possible to erect a fence, I would suggest the city solicit the help of the local arts coalition, the Art’s Council and our local schools to hold a community appreciation day where we all, as one community, can get together and paint the city’s largest continuous mural along the newly erected fence.

I think we can ultimately transform one of our biggest eyesores into our biggest piece of art and help to unite the community all at the same time.

It’s just something to think about when the issue comes back before the board.

Email government reporter J.D. Sumner at j.d.sumneralbanyherald.com.