An area developer has been awarded a construction license by the Mississippi Board of Contractors, clearing the way for further progress on a proposed assisted living facility in downtown Brookhaven.

     Work on the project has been stalled for almost a year because Brookhaven authorities have declined to issue a building permit for the project to Gayle Evans, of Franklin County, citing his refusal to provide proper documentation.

     Evans proposed to build a 60,000-square-foot assisted living facility on Monticello Street, on a lot across from the Inez Hotel.

     Brookhaven building permits must be issued to the project’s primary contractor. Evans has maintained he is the primary contractor, but for almost a year failed to produce a contractor’s license.

     State regulations require contractors of private projects costing more than $100,000 be state licensed. Evans’ proposed facility would carry a $7 million price tag.

     However, Sea Breeze, a corporation operated by Evans, was licensed as a building contractor in early May, according to a copy of the license obtained from Chance Evans, Gayle Evans’ son. An online database maintained by the state Board of Contractors confirms the license.

     City Building Inspector Chip Gennaro has received a copy of the license, Gennaro said yesterday. However, the full application for the building permit has not yet been completed.

     Chance Evans said the application process is in the works.

     “We’re still getting the application together to pull the permits,” he said.

     He said Sea Breeze had previously been licensed as a contractor, but that licensing had lapsed, a fact he said neither he nor his father knew.

     “It took us about a month to get reactivated,” Chance Evans said.

     Gennaro said once he has confirmed with the Board of Contractors Sea Breeze is licensed and Sea Breeze has successfully completed the permit application, he will then issue the permit.

     The license is dated May 9, 2012, and expires April 10, 2013. The building permit issued by Gennaro will be good for a year from the issue date.

     Chance Evans said he could not estimate when construction will begin once the building permit is issued.

     Gennaro said communication between his office and Chance and Gayle Evans has been intermittent, and he has not been informed of a timeframe for construction.

     Evans said the building will be constructed per the specifications approved by the city board.

     “There won’t be any changes,” Chance Evans said. “What the blueprints say is how it will be.”

     Any changes to the already-approved plans would require further approval.

     The proposed assisted living facility has been a long-embattled project. Gayle Evans sought a variance to height restrictions on downtown buildings and a ban on first floor living quarters in downtown buildings. Both exceptions were granted, but proved controversial.

     If built as proposed, the 60,000-square-foot facility could house 71 occupants across 51 suites and 20 bedrooms.