15 DEC 06: SOUTHSIDE STAREDOWN

It should be one of the first nice restaurants you pass in Columbus, driving into town from Cusseta. It used to be exactly that. But based on what I heard Thursday, the old Denny's restaurant on Victory Drive now has become a wide-open building for thieves. I assume that means there's no food left at the salad bar....

Reggie Richards of Columbus South Inc. admitted on WRCG's "TalkLine" the old Denny's on Victory Drive has its giant front windows broken, and the building's owner refuses to board them up. How nice of her, to tell homeless people about another place where they can stay this winter.

Thieves reportedly broke the windows at the old Denny's to steal copper wiring inside. That's become a valuable metal for recycling - so valuable that the U.S. Mint wants a new rule making it illegal to melt pennies. It's a wonder my next-door neighbor hasn't lost all the pennies he spread on the porch for good luck.

So why is the front of the restaurant as wide-open as Providence Canyon? Reggie Richards says the owner in Florida doesn't want to spend one copper (or I suppose zinc) penny on the property right now. This could be a great new opportunity, for Habitat for Humanity to open a business division.

The realtor over the restaurant apparently can't do anything about the property - and Reggie Richards said the city of Columbus lacks enough people to enforce building codes. People outside Victory Drive might not mind that, of course. It may be keeping construction from starting on the Midland Wal-Mart.

(Reggie Richards says she's gone so far as to talk with City Manager Isaiah Hugley about what to do with the former Denny's. Do you think he offered her the name of a good property insurance agent - like his wife?)

Reggie Richards explained the restaurant owner is holding on to the property until BRAC happens. He presumes property values near Fort Benning will increase with the arrival of all the new soldiers, and he'll then sell the building for more money. Of course, that income might cover all the fines he should pay Environmental Court....

What's happening at the old Denny's may reflect what other property owners are doing near Fort Benning. They're waiting for the right moment in the base realignment process to make a sale, and get the most for their investment. In this case, the phrase "timing is everything" may refer to the middle of 2008.

Columbus South Inc. wants to spark growth in that part of town. But it appears some property owners want the growth on their terms. It sounds like a clash of neighborhood responsibility and improvement, versus money. So for the woman who called TalkLine suggesting something similar to the purple-shirted people downtown - maybe Columbus South people should wear dollar-bill green.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of "open houses," we received an update Thursday on that attempted "drive-in robbery" at a convenience store on Warm Springs Road:

I had lunch at Chick Filet on Wynnton Rd today..I heard a policeman tell a sheriff's deputy about the attempt to steal the ATM..He said last night a thief went into the boarded up store by removing a piece of plywood over the broken window and wiped out the store..Took $5000 in merchandise..The policeman said the manager should have hired a security guard until he could get the glass replaced or stayed there himself..Guess the manager was cheap and scared...

From watching WRBL's interviews with the store manager, I can understand why he was scared. But c'mon now -- cheap?! Maybe he thought other criminals would consider the place cursed, and stay away.

(Besides, I suspect it is NOT cheap to replace glass doors on a business. It's probably a real pane in the wallet....)

But hold on here - are we talking about the same ATM robbery attempt? WRBL showed video Wednesday of the broken glass doors being replaced. So how would someone have removed plywood on Wednesday night? Why didn't the criminal use the other side of the hammer, and break the replaced glass again?

Now let's clean up the damage from other Thursday news items:

+ A Columbus woman accused police of burning down several apartments on Old Cusseta Road by firing tear gas, while trying to serve a search warrant. Police say they never shot any tear gas, and the fire started from food on a stove. But the woman was crying after she lost her belongings - so that should settle everything, shouldn't it?

+ The Fraternal Order of Police took about 80 selected children shopping at Kmart on Airport Thruway. It's the annual "Shop with a Cop" event. Maybe losing political candidates should do the same thing - and call it "Shop with a Flop."

+ The Columbus State University Fine Arts Department began moving into the new RiverPark campus downtown. Hopefully the students will treat the newly renovated buildings properly - and not draw any graffiti on the bathroom walls.

+ The main Columbus Library hosted a launch party for a new set of fashion design classes at Columbus State University. It's called "Project Off-Runway" - so related to this, I'd like to offer my services and personally judge the search for "Columbus's Next Top Model."

+ A Phenix City blog reported WKCN-FM's "Wild Bill" made some listeners angry, by declaring artificial Christmas trees "suck." I don't put up a tree at all anymore - but if he enjoys stabbing his bare feet with hidden pine needles in mid-January, that's his choice.

+ WRBL reported Phenix City Central High competed in its first wrestling meet in almost 30 years - and was humbled by Hardaway 71-6. Obviously the move to Phenix City by that pro wrestling troupe needs some time to take effect.

+ The Auburn football team began practicing for the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. It was the Tigers' first practice in almost four weeks - since way back when Alabama had a head coach.

+ Instant Message to Vivia's Bakery on Crawford Road in Phenix City: I stopped by for a snack, and saw the sign on the door. I sincerely hope you get well soon. And I hope you didn't buy some low-priced lettuce from Taco Bell, to put on your sandwiches.

COMING THIS WEEKEND: The big year-end event hardly anyone here wants to talk about....

Thousands of visitors read this blog every month, in Columbus and around the world. To advertise to them, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 3874 (+ 98, 2.6%)

If you mention this blog in public, please be polite enough to let me know.

© 2003-06 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.