With a snip of the ribbon, the Salvation Army's new James D. Amos shelter is officially opened

Majors Grady and Shelly Pearson greeted over one hundred city and  business leaders, along with the general public, gathered for tours of the building, a “dream” that became reality because of strong community support.

“Finally, Clarksville has a new shelter. It’s a blessing to the community, and there is indeed a need for this,” said Advisory Board Chairman  Jill Crow in opening the dedication ceremony. “Because of all of you, dreams do come true.”

Jill Crow announces the naming of the shelter after contractor James D. Amos (at far right)

Kentucky/Tennessee Division Commander John Needham, standing in sunny but near-freezing, windy air, said it “fitting that we stand here in the cold to dedicate a place of respite for the weary and the homeless.”

Clarksville Mayor John E. Piper and Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers  each spoke briefly, mentioning that both city and county each contributed $100,000 toward the cost of the shelter.

The homeless shelter is “Phase 1″ of the Salvation Army’s plan for the Kraft Street campus. Phase 2 will be the construction of a combined chapel, office and classrooms on the lot immediately fronting the shelter, a space currently topped with fresh sod to create a spacious lawn.

Inside, guests were shown well lit rooms that will accommodate up to 24 men, 18 women, and four families of up to five members each. In each of these rooms, colorful patchwork quilts covered the beds; each of 55 quilts were made by Jo Cameron, who according to reports, stitched “a quilt a day.”  One of the quilts in the men’s  hall was a beautifully blended array of creme, brown and gold, with one of the chosen fabrics a subtle print of angels, apropos for the guardianship the shelter will afford its needy occupants.

In the dining area, visitors could view photos and a slide presentation documenting shelter construction.

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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response to a complaint filed by the Clarksville NAACP found numerous flaws in the Clarksville Center Redevelopment and Urban Renewal Plan voted into law by the City Council with full support of City of Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper.

The plan, which effectively “blights” two square miles of downtown Clarksville, has been a center of controversy and triggered the formation of the Clarksville Property Rights Coalition, which is lobbying for its repeal. The ordinance allows for use of eminent domain and provides an assemblage clause for developers seeking to acquire neded propoerties for redevelopment and /or urban renewal.

In a letter requesting an audience with this committee, Urban Resource Center Director, Terry McMoore, stressed the following:

“We are very concerned that this plan in its current form does not protect low income homeowners from losing their homes and that it also violates the voting and civil rights of the citizens of Clarksville – Montgomery County’s only Majority Minority voting ward and district”.

Mayor Bowers commissioned this review committee to look into whether Montgomery County government should partner with the City of Clarksville in this Redevelopment and Urban Renewal Plan.