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New 108 Acre Home For Escambia County 4-H On The Horizon
February 14, 2014
After months of disagreement between involved parties, Escambia County 4-H may finally have a new home on the horizon.
Contracts transferable to Escambia County 4-H have been signed on two parcels totaling about 108 acres off South Highway 99 and Chalker Road near Barrineau Park.
In 2012, the children and teens on the 4-H County Council voted to sell their 240 acre Langley Bell 4-H Center to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal paid $3.6 million for the property next to the credit union’s campus in Beulah, and the Escambia County Commission agreed to construct a new 4-H Center on Stefani Road with $1.5 million in local option sales tax (LOST) funds.
$2 million of the sale proceeds were placed in an endowment fund for 4-H, and $1.6 million was reserved for 4-H to use under the guidance of UF/IFAS for a property including livestock facilities.
But after reviewing the findings of a task force, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Dean Nick Place recommended 4-H keep the $1.6 million and use the Cottage Hill State Forest, Escambia County Equestrian Center and private lands for outdoor activities and livestock education. The Escambia County Commission in July refused to accept the plan, with some commissioners saying that land deal was in no way equitable to the former 240 acres at Langley Bell.
And in January, the commission put the brakes on approval of a $1.65 million 4-H facilty to be located at the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road.
As the impasse continued between Place and the commission — including very public letters chastising each other — Place reached out to Lamar Christenberry, retired Escambia County IFAS director, as in intermediary.
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry researched local available properties on the internet and found the two properties which he toured with Christenberry and 4-H supporters Brett Ward and Jimmy Cunningham, who is also president of Escambia County Farm Bureau.
“The utility of what 4-H has now at Langley Bell can easily be recreated on the new property,” Barry said.
One parcel is 79.5 acres in the 5600 block of Chalker Road and currently belongs to Scott and Denise MacMurray of Pensacola. The property includes about 20 wooded acres, a pond and a 5722 square foot barn. The property was listed at $425,000 with a $390,000 offer accepted on behalf of 4-H.
The second property, located at South Highway 99 and Chalker Road, is about 28.7 acres and allows the main property to have road frontage on South Highway 99. An offer of $5,000 per acre was accepted.
The land deals will be handled by Beck Properties with a fee approximated at $9,750. Beck will make a $10,000 donation to 4-H when the deals are closed to negate their fee, Barry said.
A few residential lots border east side of the proposed 4-H site along Chalker Road, while the north side is bordered by a 50 acre improved agricultural lot. The southern and western sides of the site are surrounded by hundreds of acres of timber belonging to La Floresta Perdida, Inc.
“It’s the perfect place where live stock won’t bother the neighbors,” Barry said.
Barry said that by the time the Escambia Commission meets again on February 18, he expects a letter of support for the project to have been approved by Escambia County 4-H, and he expects Place and IFAS to express their support for the land purchase.
After the land deal is approved by the Escambia County Commission, which acts at trustee for the 4-H Foundation, commissioners are expected to consider moving forward with the 4-H Center on Stefani Road. The 4-H Center will be used indoor classroom type activities, while the 198 acres will be used for outdoor activities and livestock education.
Pictured top and bottom: An existing 5,722 square foot barn on one of two parcels that may soon be home to Escambia County 4-H. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured inset: Two parcels will provide 4-H about 108 acres near Barrineau Park. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Comments
24 Responses to “New 108 Acre Home For Escambia County 4-H On The Horizon”
Finally we are seeing some efforts to make this whole deal somewhat right. Guys, as much as we would have loved the Bayer property, it will never happen because the Powers that be got their feathers ruffled apparently about that land. And the Extension office will not leave Stefani for a home further North (becuase you know some don’t live in Escambia Couty) and that’s ok becuase truly other aspects of 4-H will benefit from that building and hopefully the 4-H agents will have more room to ORGANIZE and plan for the future and programs for all aspects of 4-H. And I understand that not all of 4-H is livestock/agriculture but the sale of Langly Bell effected that aspect the most. The current building at Stepahnie,though VERY crowded, does have meeting facilities and a kitchen. Programs could be run from there just as the other extension agents run thier programs from there that have nothing to do with 4-H. If anyone, such as x-4-h’er, has any other ideas then don’t wait for a drawing board re-visit because they are gonna jump on the first decent deal for these kids as there has been such opposition thus far. Inform people, us , someone, so we know what else to consider or fight for. Otherwise, if Nick Place agrees with this, it will likely be a done deal !!! Thank you so much for all of those, Barry,Cunningham, Ward,Christenberry and all those who have been fighting for the kids. We have truly succeeded due to not only the kids and parents persitence but mostly becauseof outside community support.
To ABC
The Bayer Corp. Said they would help with clean up. We farmed during those times and we do not have cancer or other problems . It is not as contaminated as people believe. Also the traffic will not be a problem. Their activities will be mostly after hours(business). The ball park has more traffic than the4Hers.
I have had concerns about the Bayer property, and the possiblities of it being severely tainted by the testing done by Bayer, is it really safe for the childre and live stock? Also what access would they have to it other than crab tree church road, that would be horrendous traffic for the residents on that road.
This new land choice isnt at all as large as what they had, but with the money they saved perhaps they can dredge the “mud hole” as someone described it.
Hopefully all the concerns will be in the best interest of the children and livestock, and belay the wants and politics of the adults………..
Haste makes waste. Also procrastination. Watch out before you purchase property without checking everything out. Brighter heads are thinking now but other properties are still being looked at. Do not let this proposal let everyone believe it is the only one available. The BOCC & IFAC need to keep their mind & goals set on the 4Hers. We are here and watching. Keep going to the drawing board & broaden your minds. You can get this right by continuing to listen to us citizens and the 4H group that have a stake in the outcome.
This still is not an acceptable piece of propery for what the kids had to give up. The pond looks more like a mudhole than a pond. The Bayer propery would be a better choice but i guess the BCC and extension service can’t figure out how to get that piece of land and rob the till at the same time time. Just pitiful if you ask me.
250 acres @ bayer coluld be bought for @ 700,000 with more infrastructure.
The proposed site is over 500,000. Bayer was the better choice. BUT if the site proposed can be approved by 4H members then I am on board.
There is some 4H history on the proposed property.
This land has ties tol Merryn Barrineau and the Gindl family. Mr. Barrikneau was a past president of Escambia Farm Burreau. Both families were strong supporters of Escambia 4H. Nokomis is just up the road and a strong 4H family lived there. They were the Crabtree’s. I spent many afternoons close to there training for livestock judging lon a Gindl farm . Very appropriate selection!
The new 4-H building to be built at the Stefani location with ” lost funds” seems to be suspicious. It has the appearance of the Escambia County commissioners wanting a new building, using this opportunity to use “lost funds” to get it. If congratulations are to be expressed, it should be thought through first. If this becomes evident that this has been the plan all along, I wouldn’t want my fingerprints on it if I were a commissioner.
I am glad for our children and the future 4-H members. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a great chapter for the 4H club. Will the perpetual complainers please give it a rest and let good vibes flourish again?
OK the Bayer property is under contract meaning that it is still FOR SALE. They could still get the property. Get an EPA study as a condition of the sale. This property would be the MOST ideal for the animals and AG studies. Even if they only use a portion of the property, they always have the room for growth.
LET THE 4-H’s decide on what THEY want since they are the ones using it!!!!!
This is great news. Now the 4-H group can get on with this lives. The barn looks great, and I’m sure the new classrooms on Stefani will be nice too. THE BAYER PROPERTY IS SOLD!!!!!!!!!! I’m glad for the kids that calmer heads prevailed (Commissioner Barry and Mr. Christenberry).
Now if the 50 acre improved agricultural lot to the north and west could be had, it would make it perfect.
Well, @ least it appears we’re finally getting SOMEwhere more acceptable for the 4H’ers with this.
All amenities of the Bayer/Schering/NorAm property aside, it WAS used for decades for the testing of EXPERIMENTAL agricultural chemicals, AND regular spraying of some pretty nasty older standbys from the “Heavy Ag-Chemical Days” (for benchmarks). I would think twice before turning a lot of young people loose on that land, without a SERIOUS Environmental Assessment first. Just saying.
Judging from the satellite pics available, the pond @ the new “Farm” could be a bit larger, and other infrastructure will have to be developed on-site (folks around here LOVE a good Building Program), while a more “suburban gardening”/semi-rural ag outreach sort of operation would be well-housed on the Stefani Extension Property.
Some thoughts from an Old Escambia Native.
Bayer Property is under contract, extension drug their feet long enough to make that happen..
now the existing adminstration at extension has to be removed, so the same barriers to use langley bell will not be in place at the new location..
Thanks Steven Barry and the Escambia County Commissioners…..but why do they have to build anything at Stefani Road for 4-H??? Why can’t everything for 4-H be in one location??? This does not make sense. I hope you rethink this…..and put all the buildings for 4-H together , not spread out all over the county.
And can you tell me why the Bayer property was not suitable for the 4-H???
Why would they settle for less. The Bayer property offers so much more then this. Look at the link for yourself at the bottom of comment. The 4H is about farming and livestock. Here is the listing info. plus price $1000000.00. The Bayer Crop Science Facility in Molino, FL. Buildings and infrastructure include station office building with 5 offices, chemical prep lab, library and conference room, Regional office building with 4 offices and conference room, Headhouse building with biology lab, greenhouse support facility, three greenhouses with potting areas, storage areas, three equipment storage barns, mechanical shop, three irrigation ponds, two lateral overhead sprinkler systems, surface water drainage syatem and weather station. Extensive equipment list in file. They will spend $533.500.00 for the property mention above and then spend untold amounts to make it what this already is. The building, parking lots and overhead irrigation system and and not to mention twice the property (250 acres) are well worth the extra money. They could approach the Bayer corp. with a tax write off type of a deal and get the property a lot less.
Just saying.
http://www.pensacolamls.com/commercial-for-sale/FL/Molino/32577/2996-Crabtree-Church-Rd-102499965.
Looks like a win-win for both parties…..The 240 acres at LBCtr was not all usable acreage…some of it wetlands. Now that we are making progress, let’s all embrace this and move on….for the kids sake as well as the community at large..
The building on Stefani Rd will still go in….this property is in addition to that.
Again, the Bayer property has been sold…it is not available.
A big heart-felt Thank you to all who worked so tirelessly and sacrificially to make this happen…Head, Heart, Hands and Health..to all!!
Our thanks to all involed in this piece of property for the 4-H Club. It is about time. My husband went to the old 4-H camp with he was a teenager, and loved it. I am so glad that other children will have a chance to enjoy the country and woods. I’m glad to see the sale finally is finally going through. The kids have waited a long time. Hats off to you and all the kids.
While this is good news when compared to the previous choices, I will say that by the time structures are designed and constructed the total cost will exceed the price of the Bayer property in Molino and will pale in comparison to the Bayer site. Sort of a shame that 4H had to trade down. Also, 4H would not need the new structure at Stefani Rd. if they bought the Bayer site.
Comparable, maybe not. It is however a lot more favorable to Mr. Places mandate to beg and borrow the use of private land. To get through life, you have to make comprimises. This is one of those comprimises. the Stefani Rd location is more central to the total 4H population base. Not all 4H is livestock or agriculture. This location is more central to those in 4H who do participate in livestock activities. My children participate in livestock and this is by far closer to home than I’d hoped for. I’d loved to have the Bayer property. When you compare < $500K for 108 acres vs. $1.5M for 250 acres, I beleive we can make it work. When all parties walk away a little unhappy, you've probably made a good comprimise. If only those running our Great Country would recognize that.
BPD for comprimise
Is this really comparable to what they had? 108 acres for giving up 240. Why didn’t they get the Bayer property?
Sounds like “favorable to the 4Her’s” progress.
Now lets squash the Taj Mahal office building to be built for the Extention Service with our $1.5million of L.O.S.T. funds.
The Extention Service office people will never want to get out of the office to open the gate for the 4Her’s.
A big thanks to all who worked on this and it’s better than being next to the office on Stefani Rd.
Seems like such a better idea! 4-H is not just for kids in rural areas, but consists of most. Much better suited for a place like this than in town!
Congratulations on a better location where 4-H participants can retreat to the country atmosphere! However, can someone please explain the last paragraph. If the new location is Chalker Road and Hwy 99, why are there still plans for 4-H in a residential location on Stefani Road?