Received an email from Mort O’Sullivan on yesterday’s UWF Board of Trustees meeting concerning the Community Maritime Park. O’Sullivan writes that today’s PNJ headline (“Museum proposal rejected by UWF trustees”) is misleading. A more accurate description would be – UWF Trustees hear proposed compromise on Park Plan-.
“UWF didn’t reject anything,” O’Sullivan says. “The meeting was opened with comments from Chairman K. C. Clark that he intended for the meeting to be for informational purposes and did not expect a vote on anything today, while admitting that he couldn’t control if anybody chose to make a motion.” No such motions were made because the trustees wanted to give the faculty and UWF consultants time to review the compromise.
The point of contention is the western edge of the park that juts into Pensacola Bay and the location and size of U-shaped commercial building at the intersection of two roads that come on to the property from Main Street.
Here is the proposal presented to the UWF Board – which appears to be win-win:
1) The western wing of the – U-shaped building will be eliminated, retaining the – center cap- on the north end as well as the eastern half ( – wing-) of the building. The building would not have the 45’ height restriction and could be built to the same height limits as the remainder of the private development (60’).
2) The University would not lease any waterfront property on Site B, but would retain the area previously shown on the north end of Site B on Main Street for the Diversity Museum and parking. The boat storage (Marine Service Center) function would not be on Site A either, but would be handled off-site.
3) The University would build parking beneath the museum. This replaces the lost underground parking from the reduction in size of the – U-building and also provides some parking for a)museum staff/patrons , b)short term off-loading parking for the eventual boat slips and c) some minimal parking for visitors to the open waterfront park.
4) The acceleration cost charge for Site A is completely removed as a financial obligation of the University. Part of the cost solution to accomplish this is to delay the dredging west of site A and south of Site B for a few years into the future.
5) And finally it is requested that the University’s construction on Site A be done in a north to south sequential manner. Based on estimated time tables that have been discussed, this likely means that the order would be first, Museum -“ Phase 1, second, the Research Center and finally, third, the Museum -“ Phase 2. This eliminates empty space between buildings and delays the southernmost structure until last.
According to O’Sullivan, the compromises are:
Point 1 Developer reduced the ground footprint of the – U-building by about 45%, which improves the view and prominence of the Museum.
Point 2, Both the City Council and CMPA Board have expressed concern over having boat storage at the park. The City already uses the Port for its PPD boats. According to O’Sullivan, the Trustees have concerns about how boat storage would function and want more specifics about where it would be if it’s moved off the Northwest corner. They want input from the faculty and program staff. The PNJ article mistakenly mentioned – moving the research center- off the Northwest site. It should have said – moving the marine service center- off the Northwest site.
“Any alternate site will need to offer assurance for long-term control/availability and a full understanding of what, if any, costs are involved,” says O’Sullivan.
Point 3, Each building must be elevated to 14’ above sea level and the developer hopes to build parking underneath each on it constructs. In reducing the size of the – U- building, some parking is lost so the developer has suggested UWF consider parking under the museum. The initial cost estimate is $900K but would be offset some by the developer from savings in not having to construct surface parking elsewhere.
“The Trustees are very concerned about controlling costs,” says O’Sullivan. “They clearly need and requested more time to get a number with which they’re more comfortable as to accuracy.”
Point 4, removing acceleration costs is favorable to UWF and also offsets cost of building parking under the museum. The trustees want the professional opinion of the staff and consultants concerning the timing of dredging needs, which are the biggest component of the acceleration costs.
Point 5, the sequential construction from north to south on site keeps the Maritime Museum prevents a big open area between the buildings that may take 15 years to construct. It also also the research center to be an active part of the museum experience. The Trustees want assurance from staff and consultants that building Phase 1, then the research center and finally phase 2 in sequential order works for the Museum. Staff and consultants will be back January 4th.
According to O’Sullivan, before adjourning the meeting, Chairman K. C. Clark asked that UWF Pres. Judy Bense and VP Hal White lead the university staff and consultants in considering all of the above after everyone returns in January. Recognizing the time required for proper consideration, it was suggested that the Trustees should expect to reconvene in mid-January once that input is received.
See New Park Layout for Museum.
See Museum views.