Just over a year after ownership of the historic Southern Queen hotel and two adjacent properties was transferred over to local developer Desmond Bell, city commissioners on Tuesday approved a step that will lead to  new housing units next to the property.

“This is probably the first new housing we’ve seen constructed in this neighborhood in decades,” Brent Childers, head of Neighborhood and Community Services, told commissioners. “This is a very rare occurrence.”

Childers told the Daily News that 514 E. 2nd Ave. came into existence after some property lines were reworked.

Since the original agreement did not include the address because it did not exist previously, the agreement had to be amended to include it. Bell was not present at the meeting.

A three-plex apartment building is slated for the site. A parking lot is also included in the  plans.

Childers also said there are hopes that the units will be included in the city’s housing choice voucher program, allowing them to become more affordable to those in need.

NCS previously acquired the Southern Queen in 2021. Ownership of it and two addresses listed as 136 State St. and 533 E. 2nd Ave. were transferred to Bell’s company, Bell Vue, LLC, in January of last year for $1. The hotel served as an overnight stop for many famous Black entertainers and was featured in the  “Green Book,” which listed hotels that catered to Black travelers during segregation.

Work on renovating the Southern Queen has continued over the past year. Efforts hit a snag in November after the building was found to have severe fire, water and termite damage which Bell said then necessitated removal of its top floor.

The adjacent properties were fixed up and the Southern Queen is now being rebuilt.

“Very easily, these properties could have (gone) by the wayside and been parking lots or a forgotten piece of history,” Childers told commissioners. “While they may not live on in the same form, they’re living on in a new form.

“Otherwise, they might not live,” he said.

Commissioners also approved 4-1 a first reading on an ordinance that would remove the so called “90% rule” from the city’s package liquor licensing rules.

Under current rules, a retail package liquor license applicant must certify that 90% of projected sales made at a licensed store during a one year period after receiving a license must come from the sale of alcohol.

Addiitonally, retail package liquor licenses will not be given to businesses operating within 1,000 feet of a similar business.

City Attorney Hillary Hightower said these requirements currently place the city’s rules in conflict with state law, hence the need for their removal.

“Basically, our ordinance is illegal,” she said. “We don’t have a choice but to take it out.”

Commissioner Carlos Bailey cast the dissenting vote, citing concerns over the impact this would have on public safety and possible growth in the number of stores selling liquor in Bowling Green.

“For me, the city has a compelling interest to regulate alcohol to prevent crime, public intoxication and to prevent any other traffic incidents (like) DUIs,” Bailey said before casting his vote. “I do think that something needs to be done to get in line with (the state), but just to get rid of it altogether, I think that it’s something I can’t vote for.”

An underwater drone is on the way to the Bowling Green Fire Department as commissioners approved its purchase totaling $100,865, something BGFD Deputy Chief Doug Morris told commissioners will help the department improve its response to water rescues, especially in Barren River.

Previously, commissioners approved the purchase of a boat equipped with sonar technology that BGFD can use to locate those who may be trapped underwater. Morris said the drone will aid in “retrieving” victims.

Morris said the drone will be carried on the boat and can be deployed in three minutes. It’s equipped with a camera and an arm that can “reach out and grab the victim.”

“The hope is that we locate, find and remove the victim in under ten minutes,” Morris said. “That’s possible now, where it wasn’t before.”

Commissioners will meet next on March 18.