County
commissioners this week rejected a proposal to turn over the historic Chapman
building in Apalachicola to a non-profit group.
The
Chapman building is the northernmost example of art deco in the state of
Florida; a study by the University of Florida called it one of the 11 most
endangered historic buildings in the state.
A
portion of the building is leased to a medical office, and there is a large
auditorium in the building which is sometimes used by the Apalachicola Bay
Charter School.
The
roof over the auditorium is deteriorating, and the county does not have enough
money to fix it properly.
Even
the most minimal repairs would cost just over 200 thousand dollars, almost 50
thousand more than the county has available for the work.
On
Tuesday the board was approached by George Mahr, who offered to create a
non-profit group called the “Friends of Chapman, Inc.” which would lease and
preserve the historic building.
He
was seeking a 50 year lease and said the group would immediately provide 50
thousand dollars to help repair the roof.
The
group would then begin seeking grants to restore the 80 year old building to keep
it for future generations.
The
Doctor’s office that leases the front of the building would get a 5 year lease
with the option to renew after that.
The
current lease ends in 2 years.
Commissioner
Pinki Jackel said she feels the county should consider the offer because the
county is finding it too difficult and expensive to maintain the structure as
long as there is a letter of support from the Doctor’s office.
Her
motion died when none of the other commissioners would second it.
Commissioner
Noah Lockley said he opposed the move because he doesn’t know who the “Friends
of Chapman” would be and he feels the county can get the same grants that a
non-profit group can.
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