During today’s Committee of the Whole, Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May revealed he had negotiated a deal to bring immediate healthcare services to the West Moreno District, the former home of Baptist Hospital
From Demolition to Development
What began as a discussion of a demolition project evolved into something more meaningful for the community.
- Commissioner May made it clear from the start: “I’m not going to support a demolition project. We have to take that label off.” Instead, he pushed for a comprehensive approach providing immediate benefits to residents.
The deal centers on Baptist Healthcare’s former campus, which the organization has donated to the City of Pensacola for redevelopment. Rather than simply tearing everything down, the May’s agreement keeps two key buildings that will serve the community immediately.
- K.C. Gartman, the Vice President of External Relations for Baptist Health Care, confirmed that Baptist Health Care will donate one building to Community Health Northwest Florida to expand dental services. She said, “Dental is a huge need in our community.”
- Baptist will donate the second building to Escambia County to serve as a community center, fulfilling Commissioner May’s vision of creating a “gathering place” for residents to access essential services.
Historical Significance and Immediate Impact
“It’s significant within the community. It’s significant within my district,” May explained.
Commissioner May noted that many neighborhood seniors are “75, 85, 90 years old. They don’t have time to wait for this redevelopment.”
By securing these buildings now, the county can begin offering programs and services within six to twelve months, rather than waiting years for full redevelopment.
- The success required coordination between multiple levels of government and the private sector. Mayor D.C. Reeves worked with Commissioner May to modify Baptist’s right of first refusal on the two properties, ensuring they would serve community needs rather than being sold on the private market.