The Perry County Commission voted at their regular meeting Jan. 13, to grant a 20-year tax abatement to the prospective buyers of the former Judson College campus in Marion, clearing a key hurdle for a redevelopment project.
The decision came after a lengthy and, at times, emotional exchange between commissioners. Marion City Council approved the same abatement at their Jan. 5 meeting.
Liberty Dukes, a representative of Judson Property LLC, the entity based in Texas that is seeking to purchase and repurpose the historic Marion campus, told commissioners the abatement was the final local step needed before the project could move to the state level.
“We filed it with the city last week. This will be the county one, and then we can do the state one to complete the project,” she said.
Commission Chairman Albert Turner Jr. attempted to move the process forward quickly, calling for a motion to approve the 20-year abatement. But questions from commissioners slowed the vote.
Because the project is under a state-mandated nondisclosure agreement, Dukes was limited in what she would disclose. She emphasized that the campus would not be demolished.
“It’s keeping the college. We’re not demolishing,” she said, adding that the redevelopment would be “an industrial project” involving new construction, renovation and repurposing of existing buildings.
Dukes insisted the project would improve conditions on campus. “Better,” she said when asked if buildings would be kept “like it is.”
Commissioner Carlton Lewis attempted to table the abatement until the next meeting, citing an anticipated name change for the purchasing entity.
“I would like to table this until the name change has taken place,” Lewis said, asking whether a delay would interfere with the closing.
Dukes responded that postponing the vote would push the closing from 14 days to 30.
Turner argued there was no need to delay, saying the commission could amend the abatement later if necessary. “We need to move forward,” he said.
With a motion by Commissioner Anthony Long and a second by Commissioner Barbra Howze, the commission voted to approve the 20-year abatement.
Dukes said a public announcement would come later: “We’re going to have a press conference once the governor has signed off on this and we have a closing of the property and move forward.”
The approval marks a significant step toward the long-awaited redevelopment of the campus of Judson College that closed in 2021.
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