Pensacola moves forward with Blount razing

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Taking action on his pledge to combat blight and clean up neighborhoods, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward is moving forward with his plan to raze the former Blount School, asking the City Council this week to approve a contract for demolition.

The school, which closed in 1982, occupies the entire City block bounded by Gregory, Chase, C, and D streets.

In recent years, the school has fallen into disrepair and become a safety hazard, as well as a haven for criminal activity. Determined to clean up the neighborhood, Hayward developed a plan last year to fund the purchase and demolition of the school using federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars.

To encourage redevelopment of this and other sites, Hayward and his staff are currently working to establish incentives for the development of mixed-income housing opportunities.

“I believe all of our citizens deserve safe, attractive neighborhoods,” Hayward said. “I’m excited to move forward with the demolition, but I’m even more excited to look toward a brighter future for this neighborhood. It’s critical that we continue to clean up our neighborhoods and find ways to help them attract investment.”

Since taking office last year, Hayward has taken steps to clean up the City’s streets and neighborhoods, enhancing code enforcement ordinances and taking action against owners who allow their property to fall into a state of decay. The City has also undertaken several streetscape and beautification projects, including on A Street, near the Blount School site.

In his State of the City address Monday, Hayward noted that the Blount School was only one of nearly 90 abandoned or condemned structures located throughout the City.

“Accordingly, we have allocated $40,000 dollars to provide rebates to owners of these structures who voluntarily pursue demolition,” Hayward said. “This plan benefits everyone – the owner saves on the cost of demolition, the City pays less than our normal in-house cost, and neighbors no longer have to contend with an eyesore.”

The City Council unanimously approved the contract at its Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, and will vote again at their regular meeting on Thursday. “I want to thank the City Council for their support on this important initiative, and I look forward to final approval on Thursday night,” said Mayor Hayward.

To fund the Blount School demolition, the City is partnering with Escambia County, which will contribute $200,000 in CDBG dollars toward the project’s total cost of $466,700. Demolition is expected to begin in early July, with completion set for September.