• E-Mail
• Print
• Larger
• Smaller

Published: Tuesday, Sep. 25, 2012 / Updated: Monday, Sep. 24, 2012 02:38 PM

Action at a glacial pace

The years of stalling to avoid renovating the old PTL Tower were supposed to come to an end in March. Instead, I wonder if those in charge have any kind of plan at all.

There has been no action taken on the shoddy building. The building sits there unimproved with neither a plan nor a purpose for future development. It appears that Morningstar Ministries has given up and is just letting the crumbling structure tear itself down, which it will surely do in another 100 years or so.

It shouldn’t be this way. York County and the rest of us shouldn’t let it happen. Morningstar has snubbed its nose at timelines, broken promises and have been horrible stewards of a high-rise they knew they were acquiring when it took the property.

It is evident why the tower sits there with all the architectural allure of a Communist-era office. It is because either Morningstar doesn’t have the money to fix it up or to tear it down, so we all suffer in the limbo – and I’m not talking about the fun dance-like challenge. To date, Morningstar has never represented to York County that it has ever obtained a financial commitment from any source, whether it be a bank or private donor. It has had chance after chance to come up with a plan, but seemingly spends its time securing excuses rather than cash.

“The economic downturn has kept us from moving forward” was a common excuse. However, the economy only started to downturn about five years ago, and Morningstar had already missed several deadlines prior to 2007.

“The county is persecuting us for our beliefs” is another excuse. In my opinion, the county has given Morningstar more chances than I’ve ever seen a serially delinquent organization get, and the county has allowed it to operate with nonprofit status. In return, Morningstar has given little back to the community, either in bolstering the tax rolls or in pleasing aesthetics on their compound.

Aside from the giant PTL remnant, there is a decaying Cinderella-like castle, parking lots with equal parts weeds and asphalt, pothole lined roads, and defunct cabins waiting almost as long as the tower for some vastly needed TLC.

At some point, enough is supposed to be enough. I believe that time was six years ago. Heck, I’d even be happy if March was the breaking point. But there is no joy here – just a giant eyesore, immense neglect and a gigantic stalling tactic that is both insulting and unnecessary.