City Government
Stafford Covers Baptist Demolition, Fricker Groundbreaking, CRA Expansion and More
City Administrator David Stafford stood in for Mayor D.C. Reeves Wednesday, running through a packed agenda of city projects and policy updates at the weekly press conference.
Baptist Towers Demolition to Begin This Week
Demolition of Baptist Towers is set to begin within the week. Work will proceed floor by floor, starting with the connector and tower buildings on the north side of the campus near Avery Street. Debris will be hauled out via Marino toward E Street and taken to regulated landfills.
Josh Wallace with Jacobs, the owner’s representative overseeing general contractor North Star, said abatement—Phase Two—is approximately 80% complete, with crews finishing work on the ground floor. No demolition can begin until a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWIP) is signed off by the city. Wallace said that sign-off is expected this week.
On the timeline, Wallace offered these projections:
- Abatement (Phase 2): Complete by July, possibly pushing into August.
- Demolition (Phase 3): Begins within the week; best case completion December 2026, worst case January 2027.
- Civil restoration (Phase 4): Begins January 2027, targeted for completion June 2027.
Wallace said excavators with long-reach arms will take buildings down floor by floor and bay by bay—not a wrecking ball. Dust suppression is the primary concern during demolition, with perimeter barriers and filter socks protecting all stormwater inlets. A 24-hour post-rain inspection is required by city mandate, along with weekly inspections throughout the project.
West Cervantes/Gadsden Property Acquisitions on Council Agenda
The city is bringing property acquisitions to the Pensacola City Council next week as part of its $5 million hometown revitalization grant program, awarded in 2024 to revitalize commercial districts impacted by disasters. Four vacant properties are targeted—one on West Gadsden and three on West Cervantes—totaling just over $1 million. The grant expires in 2027.
The City Council approved supporting the grant application in 2023 and accepted the award in July 2024. An environmental review was completed and the city received authorization to use grant funds on May 18. If the council approves the acquisitions, future use of the properties must comply with program requirements, eligible use standards, environmental rules, and grant conditions.
Fricker Center Groundbreaking Set for June 17
The city will break ground on the Fricker Community Center renovation next Tuesday, June 17, at 9:30 a.m. Mayor Reeves will participate live from the site. The project carries nearly $10 million in grant funding awarded in 2023, supplemented by local option sales tax dollars.
When the center reopens in 2027, it will include a career lab, wellness access space, more parking, improved stormwater infrastructure, weather resiliency upgrades, senior spaces, ADA-compliant playground updates, and renovations to the entryway, kitchen, and library.
Stafford also announced that the Escambia Children’s Trust awarded the city a three-year grant of $350,000 per year to fund afterschool care at Woodland, Cobb, Gold Point, and the new Fricker when it reopens. Last year, city centers served 253 students during the school year. Grant funds will support counselor salaries, program supplies, healthy food and snacks, and professional development.
Community Land Trust Update
The city last week handed over the keys to the third homeowner in the community land trust pilot project. Stacy Hernandez received the keys to her home on West Jackson Street, completing the pilot partnership among the city, Habitat for Humanity, and the Home Builders Association of West Florida. HBA members donated time, labor, and materials to construct the homes; Northwest Florida Community Land Trust Pensacola Habitat sold them to income-eligible buyers. The homes will remain affordable in perpetuity through a ground lease model.
On the next CLT project, Habitat for Humanity is continuing due diligence on the city-approved agreement for 925 East Jackson—the old gym. The survey and design are complete; engineering is near completion. Stafford said no obstacles have been encountered to date. The city is contributing the property plus approximately $590,000—$240,000 in TIF dollars and roughly $350,000 from the housing homebuyer assistance program.
Bayfront Landscaping Public Meeting June 16
A public meeting on Bayfront Parkway landscaping and amenities is scheduled for Monday, June 16 at 5:00 p.m. at the Pensacola Library on Spring Street. The Florida Department of Transportation is leading the shared-use path design project, which covers Bayfront from South Tarragona to North 14th Avenue and includes installation of trees, shrubs, ground covers, and amenities. Stafford said the city will have input on those amenities and wanted public engagement before decisions are finalized.
Yard Waste Backlog Cleared
All yard waste routes are now being completed within three working days of the regular pickup day. Garbage and recycling remain on schedule. A holiday reminder: due to Juneteenth on June 19, Thursday routes will be collected Wednesday, June 17, and Friday routes will be collected Thursday, June 18.
Baptist Site Master Plan Process Relaunched
The CRA board is set to consider resoliciting a master plan for the Baptist Hospital site at next week’s meeting. Assistant City Administrator Cliff Collins said the revised RFP was developed in partnership with City Councilman Wiggins following the council’s rejection of the previous selectee.
- Key changes include a three-phased approach: Phase 1 is community engagement, Phase 2 is a development feasibility advisory, and a Phase 3 master developer RFP will come later—informed by the first two phases. The selection committee will have five members: three from the city and two from the community, which Collins described as a concession from the usual all-city composition. The company selected for Phases 1 and 2 will not automatically be the master developer.
“The mayor’s been very clear he’s going to support Councilman Wiggins and what his desires are, and that’s the driver for this.” —Asst. City Administrator Cliff Collins
Palafox Streetscape
City Strategic Initiative Project Officer Adrianne Walker confirmed that outdoor seating arrangements for most Palafox businesses have been approved through the planning department. Harry Roy’s at The Artisan received a different configuration due to a structural hardship: there is less than six feet between the ADA ramp and a canopy column, preventing the standard six-foot pedestrian clearance. The approved plan covers Harry Roy’s, an adjacent condo entrance, and Makers Coffee down the block.