‘Super armory’ in the works

NICOLE NORRIS | The Greenville Standard

The Greenville City Council voted last Tuesday night to purchase 40-acres located at Manningham Loop and Interstate 65 between exits 128 and 130 from Soterra, LLC.

Greenville Mayor, Dexter McClendon, has big hopes for the property.

Since 13 National Guard Armories closed in 2011 the National Guard has been looking to build a “super armory” to use as a central location in Alabama. Greenville is hoping to be the city for them. Soterra, LLC has agreed to sell the land for $1,500 an acre, a total of $60,000.

The deal is only good if the National Guard agrees to build in Greenville, if that doesn’t happen the deal is off.

Greenville wouldn’t be giving the land to the Guard, they would be trading one armory for another.

McClendon is hopeful the National Guard will trade Fort Robert E. Steiner for the 40-acres. Plans for Fort Steiner are unknown at this time.