Latest Headlines
- Overnight Storms: House Fire, Power Outages
- McKenzie Estates With 404 Homes Proposed For Cottage Hill
- Community Health Northwest Florida Targeted In Cyberattack
- Walnut Hill Convicted Felon Facing Weapons Charge In Atmore
- Single Ticket Sold In California Wins $1.22 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot
- Tate High Alumni Group Donates To Local Food Pantry
- Free Dog, Cat Adoptions At Escambia Shelter Continue Through Monday
- One Injured In Highway 29 Crash Near Roberts Road
- Softball Team Remembers Teammate Killed In Pace Wreck
- Wanted Flomaton Man Arrested On Drug Charges After Allegedly Breaking Into Home While Fleeing Police
First Look New Plans: Carver Park Community Center
October 7, 2024
New plans are in for a county community center in Cantonment.
The proposed 3,200 square feet modular building will be located in Carver Park at Webb and Washington streets.
For nearly a decade, the very active Cantonment Improvement Committee has operated from a much smaller 600 square foot building that was dedicated as the Carver Park Resource Center. They have used the small space for computer instruction, food distributions, after-school programs, and meetings.
Escambia County earmarked $1.6 million of RESTORE funding last year for a new Carver Park Community Center.
The preliminary site design is done and has been submitted to the Escambia County Development Review Committee for initial review. A public hearing will be scheduled for a future date.
The new facility will be located in the area of the existing Carver Park Resource Center and will be capable of accommodating a medium to large dividable meeting room, a warming kitchen, office space, a computer area and a storage room that can be utilized for food distribution, according to the county.
The current resource building will be moved and remain on site next to the parking lot for the new facility.
Pictured top: The new site design concept for a new Carver Park Community Center in Cantonment (click to enlarge). Pictured inset: The 2015 ribbon cutting of the current Carver Park Resource Center. Pictured below: U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz meets with local citizens inside the current cramped resource center in 2018. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
6 Responses to “First Look New Plans: Carver Park Community Center”
A few years ago the library system maybe it was sent a librarian over to Carver Park and in the trailer we learned to loom hats to give to the people undergoing dialysis. That was so nice. It would be great to have a slightly larger place to maybe get together to do those kind of crafts and maybe some sewing, etc. with the community.
Jason, you have not built commercial in the last couple years. Prices have doubled under this current administration. We were looking to build and waited thing it would come down and now it’s out of the question for us. And with the doc workers getting a 63% raise over the next 6 years plus. Family are having to double up to live.
The county has crews that can do the asphalt and the concrete, why not use these crews to do the work, that would save this project a ton of money.
Options to get a larger facility? The county owns a huge property just south of this small property location. Cut out a section on the east end adjacent to Hwy 297 and build the “right” sized building. Bonus: it is still be in the community.
Jason: Having seen commercial construction costs over the past couple of years, the price seems to be pretty good. The fact that the paving is part of the costs makes it that much better. Additionally, these two hurricanes are only going to increase costs as materials and labor forces are going to be strained for at least the next couple of years.
I know a larger building is needed and will be well used at that site. You could tell the FREE money from ARPA was being spent and some builder is going to be paid handsomely for the troubles. Considering there is no land is being purchased and the current $1.6 million seems like an awful lot for just a 3200 square foot building and some asphalt parking and curbing. I cant wait to see the cost breakdown.
Some quick math shows that at $350 per square foot for the building equates to $1,120,000 and another $500,000 for parking and concrete and the what-nots that may need to be done. That makes for an awfully expensive building and an awfully expensive driveway and parking lot. As I mentioned, I cant wait to see the cost analysis of this project.