On Monday, the city of Charleston assumed control of the 19,207-square-foot facility that since 1956 has served as home to the local unit of the Mississippi Army National Guard.
The longtime armory stands on five acres of city-owned land at 409 S. Cossar St. that had been utilized by the Guard at no cost as part of a 99-year lease agreement.
Although roughly 35 years remained on that pact, when Guard representatives approached Charleston officials several months ago with news that they were no longer going to use the facilities, city leaders agreed to a termination of the lease.
“We don’t have enough soldiers from this area to drill here to use this as their home base, so we’re sending them to other armories and this was just left not being used, but yet we have been spending a lot of money on the utilities and keeping it up,” explained Donna W. Maddox, real property manager for the Mississippi Army National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Jackson.
As part of a restationing plan, Maddox said “three or four” armories have been closed in the state over the past few years, including the outpost in Water Valley.
The 80 or so Guardsmen who were assigned to the Charleston unit are being relocated to Greenwood, Maddox added.
Members of the Charleston unit, known as Detachment 1, Company F, of the 106th Brigade Support Battalion, are presently serving in Kuwait as part of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team’s mission in Operation Spartan Shield. The deployment began last spring and is reportedly set to end within months.
For decades, the Charleston Guard armory was home to Company C of the 223rd Engineer Combat Battalion. About 15 years ago, it became a part of the 106th.
In 2010, the Charleston armory underwent a major renovation that impacted much of the facility, including installation of new heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems as well as new energy-efficient tinted windows. Bathrooms were updated and walls were painted. Among other improvements, new concrete parking pads were poured on the grounds.
Charleston Mayor Sedrick Smith is excited about the possibilities for the property.
“I think it’s a grand opportunity for the city of Charleston to grow as we’re looking forward to,” he noted. “The sky’s the limit with this facility. It’s a nice facility, and we really appreciate [the Guard] turning it back over to us.”
Smith said city officials have “nothing in stone” as far as future usage of the armory building and grounds.
“Just ideas. We’re brainstorming now,” he added.
The mayor said community residents may make recommendations about how the property should be utilized.
“We’re open for suggestions,” he noted.
He did hint at one possible use of the facility when he said, “Any business venture that wants to come in, we’re definitely hoping for it.”
Ward 2 Charleston City Commissioner Lloyd Smith served 28½ years in the Guard, all with the 223rd and all at the Charleston armory.
The commissioner said acquisition of the armory property “is a great opportunity for the city,” adding, “I’m quite sure that the mayor, the board members and I will do a good job as far as utilizing the facility to help support the community and the citizens within Charleston.”
IN THE PHOTO: Charleston Mayor Sedrick Smith (third from left) receives the keys to the former National Guard armory from Maj. Nathan Hughes during a ceremonial key exchange at the facility Monday morning. Also pictured (from left) are Donna Maddox, real property manager with the Mississippi Army National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Jackson; Norma Platt, coordinator of the Charleston Mayoral Health Council; Sandy Smith, Ward 4 city commissioner; Tawanda Shannon, Ward 3 city commissioner; Staff Sgt. Kevin Brown; Gyrone Kenniel, Ward 1 city commissioner; Pfc. Bennett Taylor; and Lloyd C. Smith, Ward 2 city commissioner. (Photo by Clay McFerrin)
