Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency approves purchase of 1238 Avenue D, authorizes environmental and asbestos inspections

The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency approved a purchase-and-sale agreement for the property at 1238 Avenue D and authorized immediate environmental due diligence at a special meeting March 19.

The board voted unanimously to adopt FPRA Resolution 26-03, which completes the purchase terms for the parcel adjacent to the Highwaymen Museum. ‘‘We identified this opportunity ... and that is why we are here today,’’ a staff member said in presenting the agreement, which includes a $150,000 purchase price and a $5,000 deposit to be held in escrow by the seller’s attorney, Del Toro Law.

Commissioners pressed staff about the due-diligence timeline and environmental risks. City engineer Mark Czaralick explained that a Phase I environmental assessment typically does not include an asbestos survey: "Phase 1 does not typically include an asbestos survey," he said, and added that asbestos testing requires multiple material samples and is billed per sample. Commissioner Broderick urged adding asbestos testing to avoid surprise remediation costs, saying the board needed to know "what we're dealing with up front" because asbestos remediation could be expensive.

After discussing timing tied to a May window for an adjacent grand opening, the board authorized the FPRA director or city manager to execute contracts for a Phase I environmental study and a separate asbestos inspection. Staff noted a Phase I proposal was under $4,000 and estimated that combined sampling and survey work could approach $10,000–$15,000; the board set a not-to-exceed authorization of $15,000 to cover both studies and requested copies of the contracts be forwarded to the city commission.

Commissioner Broderick made the motion to approve the purchase resolution; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call. He later moved to authorize the environmental and asbestos inspections with the spending authorization; that motion also passed unanimously.

Board members also discussed the property's future use. Several commissioners said demolition and a fresh start would be preferable to costly renovations for a 1950s-era building, while others asked for a site visit to verify whether the structure had viable "bones" before committing to demolition. Staff said the city manager's office has initiated the demolition procurement process under a continuing services agreement and that the Lincoln Park master plan would inform design of any plaza or redevelopment in coordination with the Highwaymen Museum.

The agency adjourned after directing staff to move forward with due diligence and return updates to the board. No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period.

Votes at a glance: FPRA Resolution 26-03 (purchase/sale of 1238 Avenue D) — approved unanimously; Authorization to execute Phase I environmental and asbestos inspections (not-to-exceed $15,000) — approved unanimously.