Public Spaces in Pensacola’s District 7 eyed for Affordable Housing
by Jeremy Morrison
Pensacola’s parks may be on the table as city officials explore “non-traditional†avenues to secure property for the development of affordable housing. Mayor Grover Robinson said this option of “last resort†was currently being assessed at the behest of city council members. However, he declined to elaborate on the early murmurings of this discussion.
“I can’t really get into it very much, but at this point, we’re just evaluating,†Mayor Robinson said Monday.
Pensacola City Councilman Delarian Wiggins told Inweekly later that he had spoken with the mayor about exploring this parks option in his District 7, which encompasses a western chunk of the city.
“I have been talking with the mayor about coming up with creative ways of solving this affordable housing crisis,†Councilman Wiggins said.
If the city were to pursue this so-called “last resort†option, certain public parks within the city could be developed into various types of affordable housing units. Wiggins said perhaps some “unutilized†parks in District 7 could be used for such a purpose.
“They really don’t have a whole lot of activity going on at these parks,†the councilman said.
Like Mayor Robinson, Councilman Wiggins stressed that these discussions regarding the possible development of parks is in the early, non-specific stages — no particular parks are currently being eyed.
“We’re still trying to put the feelers out there and do a couple of surveys as well,†Wiggins said before offering up a hint about which parks the city could be assessing: “I have some further in the avenues that haven’t been used.â€
Residents of District 7 will have an opportunity to discuss this particular issue and any other item of interest with both Councilman Wiggins and Mayor Robinson during a town hall scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center.