At his press conference, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves asked Escambia County School Superintendent Keith Leonard to join him and discuss the city’s offer for the historic John A. Gibson School, a landmark Black educational institution that first opened its doors in 1921. The School Board will vote on it today.
- “Historic preservation is never easy, and it’s never the least expensive option, but it’s the most important to protect the character that we have in such a historic community,” said Mayor Reeves. “It’s really not an acquisition; it’s a collaboration and partnership.”
THE OFFER: The city will acquire the property for $260,000, a figure that was adjusted from the original $700,000 offer. The 180-day due diligence period revealed several significant challenges:
– Initial entry and safety work will cost approximately $501,000, including $285,000 for basic remediation to allow safe inspection of areas like the attic
– Asbestos removal will be necessary before any substantial work can begin
– Previously unknown FDOT easements from the 1960s significantly impact the property’s development potential
– The usable area of the 2.1-acre block has been reduced to approximately 0.9 acres due to these easements
“We knew there were going to be issues of the building because of damage with Hurricane Sally, the age of the building,” Mayor Reeves explained. “I know what we are taking on at the city is it will be expensive and it will take quite a while, but we know it’s definitely worth it.”
LONG-TERM COMMITMENT: Mayor Reeves stressed any rehabilitation will take time. “We are not going back to our citizens promising this building’s going to be repaired in a year. This is the long game in terms of trying to find historical tax credits, preservation credits.”
While the exact future use of the building remains undetermined, the immediate focus will be on preservation. The building’s structural limitations mean that any immediate rehabilitation would only allow for “light uses,” though various options, including community spaces, are being considered.
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP: Both the city and school district value the school’s history. Superintendent Leonard said, “We certainly understand the significance of that building to many, many people in our community.”
“This is a unique building in African-American history here at the city as well as within school buildings of this timeframe, the quality of construction and all of that,” noted Mayor Reeves.
The city’s proven ability to apply for and receive grants is key to partnership. Mayor Reeves explained, “The city, unlike the school district, has a primary focus of educating our kids. And we feel like it makes sense from a logistical perspective and also from a grant acquisition perspective.”
- The superintendent added, “We’re just thankful that we have a city that is willing and willing to do what needs to be done with the property and the building itself.”
The city will focus on securing historic designations that could open up additional funding streams. While the timeline for full rehabilitation remains uncertain, the commitment to preserving this century-old piece of history protects Pensacola’s cultural heritage.
“If the school district didn’t care about the history of the building and all that, certainly they’re well within their legal right to say, ‘Well, we don’t have to care about that, and we’re going to sell it to the highest bidder,'” Mayor Reeves acknowledged. “So I think that personifies the partnership, as they saw it the same way we did.”