It’s anybody’s guess what closed the popular Ed Rice Community Center in Frayser last week. We learned tests showed there was no black mold, which poll workers who got sick claimed several weeks ago.
The City of Memphis says after a first round of mold testing at the center nothing was found. To be on the safe side, they say they’ll run a second test.
In the meantime, whether there are leaks in the roof or sickening mold, the children in Frayser need somewhere to go, and now.
“What we want to hear from our City Council and as well as the city Mayor and our newly elected County commissioners is what we can do for the future of our community center,” said Rep. Larry Miller.
While mold is ruled out for now, there are still longtime issues including leaky roofs.
“Our number one priority is to make sure that we get a new facility right here at the Ed Rice Community,” said Shelby County School Board Commissioner Stephanie Love. “We’re not here to place blame on anybody. What we’re saying is that this community deserves a new community center.”
No one questions the need for a new center. In fact, earlier this year the city requested $8 million to demolish the old center and build a new one, but folks in Frayser say two years is too long to wait and want the city to help with alternatives in the meantime.
The city expects the center will reopen by the weekend.
“This is one of our most used community centers,” said Ursula Madden, spokeswoman for the City of Memphis. “We hated to shut it down, but it was out of an abundance of caution. We had a complaint. Somebody felt there was a mold in the building making them ill. We took that complaint seriously and that’s why we temporarily closed.”
