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10 Potential Sites For New Escambia Jail, Including Molino And Cantonment
November 20, 2014
Ten sites in Escambia County are being considered for possible locations for a new jail, including sites in Molino and Cantonment.
The Central Booking and Detention was damaged beyond repair during a natural gas explosion following flooding on April 30, forcing the county to find temporary housing for about 600 inmates. Now, the county is vetting 10 pieces of property as possible locations for a new detention facility.
As part of that vetting process, the county is looking at the drainage and flooding potential, zoning and traffic patterns for each site.
- Highway 29, just north of Barrineau Park Road. The 195 acre parcel sits west of Highway 29 between the neighborhoods on Duxbury Avenue to the north and Weeping Willow Court and Windham Drive off Barrineau Park Road to the south.
- Central Commerce Park, Phase II off Highway 29 in Cantonment. The 181 acres is within the park, accessible from Highway 29.
- Near Highway 29 and Becks Lake Road, with likely access from Beck’s Lake Road. Reviewers have noted that alternative access would be needed because of the potential of trains to block Becks Lake Road.
- Perdido Landfill Area, accessible from Beulah Road. Future access could be expanded by exit ramps from I-10 to Beulah Road.
- Old Soccer Complex, Highway 29 and W Street. Formerly owned by the county, the site now belongs to Gulf Power
- Old Palafox and Airport Boulevard. The site fronts both roadways.
- Old Jail Site, on Leonard Street. Stormwater concerns would be addressed.
- McDonald’s Shopping Center site on West Fairfield Drive.
- Superfund site on Palafox.
- Some 68 acres north of the Superfund site in the area of Beggs Lane and Spruce Street.
Discussion on a new site are in the preliminary stages on potential sites with no timetable for a final choice.
Comments
23 Responses to “10 Potential Sites For New Escambia Jail, Including Molino And Cantonment”
If it comes to the Molino or Cantonment area I would think that property value would go down and people wouldn’t want to move out that way. Too close to schools @ either location. Old Soccer complex sounds good to me. Central location and near the interstate with lots of motels/resturants for visitors needing to visit the jail. No basement….
Does it seem logical to place the 4-H facility and a jail less than 10 miles from each other? There have been way too many prisoner escapes in Molino already! Are the citizens of this are secure enough to believe those patrolling/working the jail wont let more escapes happen!?!
BY ALL MEANS let’s waste MORE tax dollars because next would be adding buses for extended bus routes out this way!
Confidence? NOPE! They’ll do what they want regardless of what the community says -
**Also, NOT ENOUGH police patrol this area! If so – they would make more money for the county by issuing tickets for the semi’s that race down 95A, 196, & Molino Rd! Speed limit of 45 mean 55 & 50 (on Molino Rd) means 60!!! KEEP SEMIs to 97 & 29!!!
Did anyone move to the country for peace of mind and tranquility!?!?!
It would make sense to put the jail as close to the courthouse as possible..Since the prisoners are transported back and forth to court so many times, make it economical and keep them near the courthouse..
The sherrif and his pals are trying to get the jail moved to Molina/cantonment because if they do it there won’t be any gaps in their patrolling . Has anybody else noticed the amount of cops north of nine mile lately? It’s ridiculous . I understand that Aliya bad things happen up here but when you put the amount of cops up here that there has been recently they start getting anise and almost harassing . But if they put the jail up here every fifth car going down 29 will be a sherrif or city cop. There are only 4 ways to access Molina and that’s 29 97 297 or Beulah road. I believe they know exactly where there going to build it and that will be in our area somewhere. Then all of the county is under their close watchfull eye
The W Street and 29 would be the most logical site. Yes its low land but that is an easy fix with dirt and drainage. It’s a 1/2 way point between north, south, east, and west areas of town. No close housing. They still could use the existing land for future expansion or maybe a training area \ transition jail for ones being released back in public.
For the one’s in charge of building \ construction remember that the low bid is not always the best way. low bidders usually mean short cuts or workers that that fly by the seat of their pants to get it done.
Keep the facility where the offenders come from.
high and dry near the nuclear power plant still unbuilt
West of 29 north of 196…that’s an exclusive housing area.not good for these neighbors.as for 29 flooding I believe the county worked on that ONE SPOT. Super site sounds likes the best,unless the county wants the EAST SIDE of 29 and 196 ,I own 5 ares there.guess that’s a conflict of thinking here.tho it would work if I was s commissioner.
The old winn dixie bldg in cantonment big enough for magistrate office probation off and jail…empty bldg just sitting there…jyst saying
I think it would make more sense to locate it in the so called commerce park in Cantonment. The current location is in the southernmost parts of the county. When an officer from the north end has to take an inmate to jail, he’s off of his patrol for an easy 3 hours, leaving the already undermanned area…defenseless. If it’s put in the middle of the county, there won’t be any more gas used, but a lot less time spent.
While it is true that “first appearances” can be done by video from the jail, the person has to be transported for booking and so on at the jail. The repeat trips to court are normally done in person not by video. Not only does the jail house city and county inmates but federal also.The super fund site should be a good use for the property as few people are going to be interested in buying it.
I agree with Steve about designing wisely, not frivolously. We do not need to spend our tax dollars on making it fancy. It is a JAIL not a place of worship nor to attract occupants.
But locate it on the current site.
Aragon Court, the sewage plant, and now they want to dump the jail on us.
We are not a dumping ground, we do not want the jail out here, the jail should remain near the ECSO facility, a la Super Fund Site!
Comm Barry, think of things such as your newly acquired chair, tenure and the next election as it will surly come round. Protect your constituents as we elected you to do, and we will remember you… in a positive light.
“Old Soccer Complex, Highway 29 and W Street. Formerly owned by the county, the site now belongs to Gulf Power ”
I would think that this site would be a flood problem waiting to happen. There is a reason the Ruby Tuesdays was torn down
The jail, courthouse, probation and drug screening offices should all be within walking distance from each other..
I agree with “steve” and “well”. I like the idea of it being located at W St and 29. I think that’s a bit more centralized (equal) for all precincts to get to in a timely manner. I also like the idea of keeping it where it’s at…BUT!…No basement! The ground needs to be built up level (on higher ground). The BOCC needs to listen to ALL possiblities. No hidden agendas. Be smart about this!
Many things to consider in finding a new site for the county jail.
First there needs to be a large amount of acreage to allow for growth and other LEO types of training and operations.
Electronic “appearances” for initial hearings can be easily done without having to transport inmates from the new jail to the courthouse.
Perhaps the courthouse could also be moved to the new site and name it a Judicial / Law Enforcement Complex.
Never understood the downtown waterfront location for the courthouse. Parking is terrible and the building is remote from the central populace of the county. Nice views for the staff but a pain for the average citizen to access.
Maybe the Perdido Landfill is a good area and the ECUA could locate a recycle facility there which would employ the prisoners and benefit the citizens of the county?
Lots to consider…Best wishes to those who have to come up with the final answer.
Jane on November 20th, 2014 4:03 am, “Considering that inmates may have to be transported to court for whatever reasons I would think somewhere in the greater Pensacola area would make more sense than trying to transport them from Molino or Cantonment. ”
Live video sessions from the jail to the court house could be a possiblity. This is done in many counties across the state. It is safer, cuts down staff and milelage, and just makes sense!
The inmate still gets his/her day in court!
the mayor of downtown pensacola is looking for new business. LOL.
Build it on the former owned property W st and 29, not much housing there then tear down the damaged site and build another smaller holding pin for the thugs.
And don’t have some designers put a bunch of tax wasted dollars in it either. just basic needs like the rest of have.
Superfund site on Palafox, it would be a hard sell to do anything private sector on that site. Concrete it over and stack em up.
The jail needs to stay close to the ECSO and the PPD. Both departments need to have quick access to the jail. The officers need the ability to process prisoners quickly ang get back on the streets to serve and protect the citizens of the county and the city. Plus if the jail is moved further out in the county both departments will have added expenses for gas and maintenance for the officers vechiles.
I believe the former site is as good as any. Don’t build a basement as that is the only part of the building that flooded.
Considering that inmates may have to be transported to court for whatever reasons I would think somewhere in the greater Pensacola area would make more sense than trying to transport them from Molino or Cantonment. The other issue is that Hwy. 29 is flooded when it rains heavily and you can’t drive on it, cutting off easy access to Pensacola.