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County Buys Old Molino School For Library, Community Center
May 8, 2009
Escambia Commissioners approved the purchase of the old Molino Elementary School building at their Thursday night meeting, a move that will bring a library and community center to the growing community.
The Escambia County commission approved the purchase of the for $400,000 from the Escambia County School Board.
The county has attempted to acquire the old Molino Elementary property from the school board for several months.
The school campus includes 9.66 acres and four buildings — the largest of which is 16,630 square feet.
In July, the county commission offered the school board $2 million for both the unused Wedgewood Middle and Molino Elementary school campuses, but that offer was shot down by the school district. Then-superintendent Jim Paul made a $3.3 million counter offer that the county commission did not accept. The $3.3 million was broken down as $2.9 million for the Wedgewood property and $400,000 for the old Molino School property.
Plans call for the old Molino school to become a community hub, possibly including a 5,000 square foot library, a museum highlighting Molino history, a small health clinic, a business incubator, renovation of the cafeteria and one additional building for community events and private party rental along with other uses.
The library portion of the project is currently ranked number three in Florida for a half million dollars in funding from the state. The grant, if awarded, would require the county to use the facility as a library in Molino for a minimum of 20 years.
The half million dollar grant, if awarded, would be matched by another half million from the county. The county’s portion is already approved, using Local Option Sales Tax funds.
The Molino school closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
The school, which sits on nine acres along County Road 95A, first opened in 1939.
The funds will be used by the school board in their Local Capital Improvement Fund.
Pictured above: The old Molino Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
4 Responses to “County Buys Old Molino School For Library, Community Center”
I am very glad to hear about the purchase of the Molino Elementary School, and the possiablty of a Library being placed there along with the other previous events. I’m only a resident of Molino for 10 years but I have wonder why there wasn’t a Community Center, lighted walking tracks. I would love to work toward seeing this completed. I would like to see this go forward for the Community and the County Commissioner’s be recongized for the efforts they put toward it happening.
This is good opportunity to do something good for the Molino community. Please don’t screw it up. I have a few ideas that I would do first: 1. Security (fence the property and put up lighting so individuals feel safe when on the property. 2. Clean up the place!! I see camp 5 work all over this project!! 3. Put in a walking track an portable bleachers. This could be used for a “Molino” type Relay for Life type event, and would give a safe place for individuals to walk. This place need to be a hub for the whole community to use, and take pride in.
They cannot even mow the grass or trim the hedges! Somebody needs to take this over. This is an eyesore. Fortunately Life Flight landed there recently for a beloved family member who is still with us.
I went to Molino School for 6 years in from 67-73 and there was never a gym there. There was a locker room at one time where there were showers for the football players. Back in the day they played football there as my mother Ollie Mae Kennedy was a cheerleader there as were many other women from this area. Just wanted to let ya know that. P.S. and even in 2009 there is no gym there.