As I reported, the Malcolm Yonge Gym demolition had started…and was mostly completed yesterday.
I took this photo at 6 am today:
Getting Up to Speed:
Last spring, the City of Pensacola closed the facility that had been leased to Lighthouse Private Christian Academy because of the near-failing condition of the arches.
- The City made the decision to demolish the gym after the cost to replace the gym would cost more than $3 million. A contract for demolition was approved last month by the Community Redevelopment Agency.
Citizens formed Save Malcolm Yonge Gym and began seeking to gather 4,138 signatures to force a citywide effort to reverse the approval of the contract. Jonathan Green tried to get a temporary restraining order to halt demolition for 60 days to give them time to get enough signatures. A judge rejected his request but gave him 14 days to refile, which he has done.
- On Monday, Mayor Reeves and staff presented the CRA with their recommendation to build 12 affordable houses on the gym’s site. His staff is exploring putting the land into a land trust to ensure the homes stay affordable.
- On my show on WCOA this week, the mayor said, “I’m very motivated to not only try to create attainable housing for our workforce but also to make sure that it stays attainable for in perpetuity for my kids and grandkids so that those houses would still be in the affordable pool.”
Save Malcolm Yonge Gym hasn’t given up. They posted on their website:
WE ARE HEADED FOR FEDERAL COURT! Any bit helps! Our volunteers are paying for the cost to force the city to REBUILD the Malcolm Yonge Community Center out of our own pockets. We are trying to garner enough signatures to place this item on a city-wide ballot, and pay the legal costs.
They have started a GoFundMe account.
What’s Next
During the first half hour of my radio show this morning, I will have Teresa Hill of Save Our Malcolm Yonge Gym and Jonathan Green and Mayor D.C. Reeves – not at the same time. But I will give each a chance to be heard.
At 7:30 a.m., Councilman Charles Bare will be my guest. I booked him before the demolition started and asked him to talk about his desire to have the city add more indoor gyms. We will probably touch on the demolition.
The fun starts at 7 a.m. Listen online.
Featured photo by BRUNO CERVERA on Unsplash
I signed the petition when confronted outside the Town Hall at the Wharf last week, and while I saw no harm in asking for a pause for further evaluation, I in no way support litigation on this matter. It’s clear the city did not perform basic maintenance (for decades!) on dozens or maybe hundred of parks, trails, recreation facilities and other city-owned assets. Hamstringing the city by demanding dilapidated structures be rescued because of community warm-fuzzy sentiment is ludicrous. Let’s move on from here.
Seriously. Has anyone looked into the Lighthouse Christian Private Academy?
They import soccer players as part of a state subsidized scheme to promote alternative solutions to public schools.
My eye predicts that it’s a front predicated on securing government funding for “private education initiatives” supported by the Florida republicans bent on destroying the public schools in Florida.
It’s a freaking flashing strobe.
The charter that the City voters passed is here.
The people of the City of Pensacola have enjoyed a Power of Referendum since 1931. It’s a check on the power of the “council.” It’s like a citizen’s veto. We do know what happens when the City Clerk issues a petition to a Petitioners’ Committee. The Model City Charter used as a guide in 2008/2009 describes it best: “When a referendum petition is filed with the city clerk, the legislation sought to be reconsidered shall be suspended from taking effect.” What I really want to know is if Mayor Reeves just made this up or did City Attorney Cobb tell he could do it? Get Charter Review Commission Chairwoman Crystal Spencer on the show to ask about a referendum. She and Margaret Stopp are the ones who drafted the actual language in August 2009. They will know. Ask also to see the “final report” that the Charter Review Commission was directed to prepare and submit to the council to explain its recommendations. Where is the report?
Rick, please ask Mayor Reeves why he simply did not ask for a pause in demolition in order to allow the petitioners the opportunity to fulfill their power of referendum. Legality aside, ask our Mayor why he did not do the right thing to support the “spirit” of the City Charter.