Alabama State's $2.3 million deal to buy Alabama Public Television building on hold

Alabama State University?s $2.3 million purchase of the former Alabama Public Television building in Montgomery has been delayed as lawyers from three parties try to ?unwind? the details of leasing and ownership.

Then-ASU President William Harris said in June that the school hoped to finalize the sale in time for its students to begin using the facility for hands-on broadcast media instruction by the start of fall semester, which began Aug. 20. That plan is on hold as city representatives have joined APT and ASU officials in working through the legal process.

?There are some legal issues related to who owns the property, who owns the building and what the terms of the lease are,? Montgomery Deputy Mayor Jeff Downes said.

The school hired longtime WSFA-TV anchor Bob Howell in June to lead its recently formed Center for Applied Communications Media.

Howell said at the time that the former APT facility near Paterson Field will offer the ?missing link? of hands-on experience for those students, who will learn technical skills and eventually will produce newscasts from the building.

Downes said the city wants to help make that happen as soon as possible.

?We want Alabama State to operate their program there,? Downes said. ?It?s a great use for a facility that may otherwise be vacant.?

The Advertiser reported in July that Howell will make $187,000 a year, making him one of the highest-paid employees at the university.

Harris stepped down Sept. 17 to make way for new ASU President Joseph H. Silver Sr., who previously was provost and vice president of academic affairs at Clark Atlanta University.

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'Advertiser' plans to sell building

The Gannett Company, which publishes the Montgomery Advertiser, has reached an agreement with Graham and Company LLC, a commercial real estate broker based in Birmingham, to assist them in selling the building that houses the Advertiser?s news and business operations at 425 Molton St., in downtown Montgomery.

The Advertiser?s production facility, located next door at 475 Molton St., is not included in the agreement. Print products will continue to be produced at this facility.

?Our business has changed over the past few years and we find ourselves in a building that doesn?t suit our needs as well as it once did,? said Advertiser publisher Sam Martin.

?The sale of the building in no way minimizes our commitment to this community,? Martin said. ?We are committed to continuing our role as the No. 1 provider of news and information in the marketplace. Our readers will continue to receive the local news and information they expect, and our advertisers will continue to reap results from their investment. This is simply a real estate transaction.?

The Advertiser will look for office space more suited to current business needs, Martin said.

In addition to the daily newspaper, the Advertiser Company also publishes montgomeryadvertiser.com, the weekly Prattville, Millbrook and Wetumpka Progress and the Bulletin Board.

? Staff report

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