Mayor Ashton Hayward is reporting that Gov. Rick Scott has made the decision not to locate a Florida Department of Corrections probation and parole office at 1625 North Palafox Street, near the historic North Hill neighborhood. The Department of Corrections has decided to instead to extend their lease at their current facility on North Davis Highway.
“This week, I had the opportunity to meet with Governor Scott and we had a frank conversation about this issue and the impact such a facility could have on our neighborhoods,†said Mayor Hayward in a press release. “While my administration was bound by law to issue permits, I have personally opposed the project and worked hard on behalf of our residents to find a workable solution.â€
Councilman Brian Spencer may have also had a hand in the decision. At yesterday’s campaign meeting at The Fish House, Spencer took time after all the speeches to talk with the governor about the issue.
The mayor’s office also reported that Circuit Court Judge Gary Bergosh ruled on Wednesday that the proposed office was allowed under its current zoning, and thus that City officials had acted correctly in issuing permits for the building. So without Gov. Scott’s help there would have been little that the city could have done to stop the office from opening.
All is left is the problem the developer may have with his bank since his loan to buy and renovate the property was secured by the lease payments from the Department of Corrections.