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Damn!!! Someone says NO to Studer?
Charles Bare City Councilman
The YMCA does not belong on one of the most valuable remaining parcels that the city owns on the waterfront.
While I greatly appreciate Mr. Quint Studer’s offer of $5 million to construct one-third to one-half of the facility, I cannot overlook the revenue we will be passing up if the new YMCA is built on that location.
The YMCA will generate no property tax. A similar for-profit building would generate between $97,000 and $150,000 of property tax revenue per year (funding a cash-strapped Community Redevelopment Agency created to address blight that will hover near bankruptcy in 2017). In addition, unlike a for-profit gymnasium, members of the YMCA do not pay sales tax on memberships. Sales tax is a critical part of our city revenue.
Proponents argue that there are no other businesses looking to build on the site, but there has never been a real effort to market any of the parcels on the Community Maritime Park. Even the mayor can understand that vacant land doesn’t sell itself.
One of the biggest challenges is the issue of parking. There simply isn’t enough available parking on the property. With the construction of Mr. Studer’s new building, the parking situation will be even more limited. The current parking lot is designated temporary and may also be developed. Twenty percent of the YMCA members are senior citizens. So where are they going to park?
There has also been talk about expanding the YMCA’s programs to include water sports. While the creation of kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding programs sounds inviting, the location is far from ideal. The water near the maritime park is not a swimmer’s paradise. The amount of debris, including creosote poles and rip-rap (loosely deposited stones and rock) in the water would make boating and standup paddleboarding hazardous. Sadly water sports may be the only area available for expansion as the existing property does not provide much room for fields or other outdoor activities. Other locations, such as the site of the old Blount Junior High School would grant such opportunities.
There is much talk about a marina, and a group has even stepped up to seek grants to complete the marina on the west side of the park. This would likely be a day marina that encourages people to visit but not stay overnight. These people will want something to do and I don’t believe the YMCA will meet that need.
As a citizen and city councilman, I am also concerned about the job situation in Pensacola. My preference would be to see something that creates new jobs at the Maritime Park. The movement of an existing facility to the park property will have a minimal impact on job creation.
The YMCA has existed in Pensacola for more than 50 years. I appreciate the contributions it has made to our community. I support the concept of constructing a new YMCA that will encourage families to be more healthy. However, there are many parcels available in downtown Pensacola. We don’t need to sacrifice one of our most valuable parcels for a short-term gain in lease fees.
The citizens deserve a better use of that property. They need something that will generate revenue and will be an economic engine for our area. The YMCA is not the engine we need. We must create a strategy to market the existing parcels and give the citizens the park that we promised.
We cannot allow this project to plunge us further into debt.
Charles Bare City Councilman
The YMCA does not belong on one of the most valuable remaining parcels that the city owns on the waterfront.
While I greatly appreciate Mr. Quint Studer’s offer of $5 million to construct one-third to one-half of the facility, I cannot overlook the revenue we will be passing up if the new YMCA is built on that location.
The YMCA will generate no property tax. A similar for-profit building would generate between $97,000 and $150,000 of property tax revenue per year (funding a cash-strapped Community Redevelopment Agency created to address blight that will hover near bankruptcy in 2017). In addition, unlike a for-profit gymnasium, members of the YMCA do not pay sales tax on memberships. Sales tax is a critical part of our city revenue.
Proponents argue that there are no other businesses looking to build on the site, but there has never been a real effort to market any of the parcels on the Community Maritime Park. Even the mayor can understand that vacant land doesn’t sell itself.
One of the biggest challenges is the issue of parking. There simply isn’t enough available parking on the property. With the construction of Mr. Studer’s new building, the parking situation will be even more limited. The current parking lot is designated temporary and may also be developed. Twenty percent of the YMCA members are senior citizens. So where are they going to park?
There has also been talk about expanding the YMCA’s programs to include water sports. While the creation of kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding programs sounds inviting, the location is far from ideal. The water near the maritime park is not a swimmer’s paradise. The amount of debris, including creosote poles and rip-rap (loosely deposited stones and rock) in the water would make boating and standup paddleboarding hazardous. Sadly water sports may be the only area available for expansion as the existing property does not provide much room for fields or other outdoor activities. Other locations, such as the site of the old Blount Junior High School would grant such opportunities.
There is much talk about a marina, and a group has even stepped up to seek grants to complete the marina on the west side of the park. This would likely be a day marina that encourages people to visit but not stay overnight. These people will want something to do and I don’t believe the YMCA will meet that need.
As a citizen and city councilman, I am also concerned about the job situation in Pensacola. My preference would be to see something that creates new jobs at the Maritime Park. The movement of an existing facility to the park property will have a minimal impact on job creation.
The YMCA has existed in Pensacola for more than 50 years. I appreciate the contributions it has made to our community. I support the concept of constructing a new YMCA that will encourage families to be more healthy. However, there are many parcels available in downtown Pensacola. We don’t need to sacrifice one of our most valuable parcels for a short-term gain in lease fees.
The citizens deserve a better use of that property. They need something that will generate revenue and will be an economic engine for our area. The YMCA is not the engine we need. We must create a strategy to market the existing parcels and give the citizens the park that we promised.
We cannot allow this project to plunge us further into debt.
