Pensacola to seek purchases with $5M disaster-revitalization grant; Fricker groundbreaking set and community land-trust homes delivered

Acting city official told the briefing that the city in 2024 was awarded $5 million in grant funding to revitalize commercial districts affected by disasters and that council consideration next week could authorize the acquisition of four vacant properties (one on West Gadsden and three on West Cervantes) totaling a little over $1 million. Environmental review is complete, and the official said future uses of acquired parcels must comply with grant requirements, eligible‑use standards and environmental conditions.

The Fricker Center renovation groundbreaking is set for June 17 at 9:30 a.m., the official said, with nearly $10 million in grant funding combined with local option sales tax supporting conversion of the center into a multipurpose facility expected to reopen in 2027 with a career lab, wellness spaces, improved stormwater resiliency, senior programming, an ADA‑compliant playground and upgraded library and kitchen facilities.

The city also announced a three‑year Escambia Children’s Trust award of $350,000 per year to provide afterschool care at Woodland, Cobb, Gulp Point and the new Fricker site when it reopens. The grant will support counselor salaries (full and part time), program supplies, healthy food and professional development; last year the center served 253 students during the school year.

On affordable housing, staff said they recently turned over keys to the third homeowner in a pilot community land‑trust project. Stacy Hernandez received a home on West Jackson Street; the pilot is a partnership among the city, the Northwest Florida Community Land Trust, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity and the Homebuilders Association of West Florida. Staff said the HBA provided donated labor and materials and the land-trust model will keep units affordable in perpetuity.

Habitat for Humanity is continuing due diligence on the 925 East Jackson (the old community‑center gym) site; design and survey work is complete and engineering is near completion. The city noted an expected city contribution of roughly $590,000 toward that project, comprised of approximately $240,000 in TIF/TIFF dollars and roughly $350,000 from a homebuyer assistance program.

Other operational updates included a Bayfront Parkway landscaping public meeting (FDOT design) and sanitation-service notes: yard‑waste routes are now completed within three working days of pickup, and collection schedules will shift around the Juneteenth holiday (Thursday routes collected Wednesday, June 17; Friday routes collected Thursday, June 18).

The briefing also included a resident satisfaction survey: 66% of respondents said the city is moving in the right direction; waterfront access and safety ranked high among positives while housing costs and homelessness were top concerns. The official noted the city is awaiting property‑appraiser data to assess proposed property‑tax changes and their impact on CRA/TIF revenues.

The city introduced incoming staff: Steve Bam (economic development director, pending council confirmation) and Joel Holmes (assistant parks director).