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Century Seeks $3.2 Million To Renovate Two Community Centers, Including One They Don’t Actually Own
October 27, 2021
The Town of Century is applying for a grant worth more than $3 million to renovate two community centers, one of which the town does not actually own.
The application is for a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant — Coronavirus that totals $3,255,000. According to consultant Robin Phillips (pictured left), the fund would be spent below, if awarded.
– $50,000 of the total grant would be used for administrative costs, and engineering will cost $300,000.
– $850,000 would go for the Century Community Center (also known as the Ag Building) at the corner of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard to bring it up to current building code, renovate the kitchen and bathrooms, install a new HVAC and air purification system, install outside lighting and pave the parking lot. The metal building, constructed in 1992 is about 5,000 square feet.
– $1,985,000 would be used for the Carver Community Center at 7040 West Jefferson Avenue to bring it up to code, renovate the kitchen and bathroom, install HVAC and air purification systems, install a new roof, pave the parking lot and for other building renovations. [Photo gallery...]
There’s no guarantee that the town will receive the state grant.
Carver Community Center Questions
A title search is underway by the Escambia County School District to determine exactly who owns the Carver Community Center. According to Escambia Property Appraiser Records, the 6,828 square foot building was constructed in 1945 and belongs to the school district.
For a photo gallery tour of the inside and outside of the old school, click here.
Several people have claimed the building was actually deeded to the Carver Community Center Association, Inc, a Florida not-for-profit corporation that is not listed by the IRS as a tax-exempt organization. Public records indicate that the school board did deed and six-tenths of an acre parcel adjacent to the community center to the county. The county then deeded the property, which currently has a basketball court, to the community center association. But property appraiser records do not indicate the building was ever transferred away from the school district.
But longtime Century resident Helen Mincy (pictured left) said the building was actually given to the “black community” by the school board.
“It was given to the black community of Century, the Carver Community Center was given to the black community of Century’s,” Mincy told the Century Town Council during a special meeting this week and at previous meetings. She has mentioned the possible existence of documentation to that effect, but so far no one has produced any records.
Town officials have said if the building belongs to the school board, they intend to ask for ownership to be transferred to the town, perhaps for a nominal fee.
Regardless of ownership, officials agree the wood frame building, located in the town’s historic district, needs to be preserved.
“Do nothing and it’s just going to fall to the ground,” council president Luis Gomez said.
“I think it’s vital for the community that we keep this building,” Mayor Ben Boutwell remarked. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful building. That history means the world to this community…I want to see it done right”.
Pictured above and below: The Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue in Century. Pictured top inset: Consultant Robin Phillips. Pictured bottom: A special town council meeting on the grant application. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
14 Responses to “Century Seeks $3.2 Million To Renovate Two Community Centers, Including One They Don’t Actually Own”
They want to fix buildings up but the bridge on freedom road has been needing repairs for over 2 years. My mom lives on that road and it needs to be replaced
I can’t get to her fast without going around .please get it fixed
Imagine a world where Century exists within it’s own budget, no grants, no town welfare.
Well, I think that old historical buildings should be preserved, instead of just tearing them down and putting up some new cheaply made building. I was really disappointed and sad when the old Century High School was just torn down, like it was nothing. The damage from the hurricane wasn’t that severe, and I think that it could have been preserved. So many people have memories from that school, and I was hoping that someone would be able to save it from destruction. I can still remember the smell of the hallway and the library. It was such a unique building and it was a shame that it was torn down. I guess that’s the American way, tear down history and throw up something new.
@Ms. Jack, most of the people who comment on here about Century don’t attend meetings or are not residents of Century and know nothing about Century at all but clearly think their opinions matter. @Alan, there was only one Community Center in Century the Ag building on Hwy 4 was change a few ago to the new Century Community Center because of the location of the old one but I’ll digress.
The Florida Division of Corporation’s online records do show a Carver Community Center Association, Inc. in existence since 1999 It is a Florida Not For Profit Corporation. Unlike so many other non-profits, this one has actually submitted its annual report to the state for every year of its existence and most recently on April 23. Folks up in Century would know the names of the seven people who serve on the non-profit’s board. Marilyn Robinson is listed as the Registered Agent. If there are documents related to a transfer of title, she’s the person most likely to have them in her custody or know where they are kept ideally in a safe deposit box in a bank.
These well constructed historic buildings are a really valuable assets to the rich history of Century. Some of those houses on Jefferson are classic. I’m glad to see this endeavor. I saw the RFP in the legals.
The rebuilt Methodist church after the tornado is a real symbol of hope as well as the cleaned up sawmill.
Kudos to the leaders in Century for this endeavor.
Y’all taking what she said out of content. When she said it was given to the black community it really was that was the school for them because it was segregated and blacks had to have their own school and this was it some of yall don’t understand the history behind it but instead want to bash the black community or call this lady racist because she said it was given to the black community and which it was because they didn’t want blacks at the same school as whites.
Does a city with only 1800 residents, a city that could not even incorporate by today’s regulations (minimum 5,000 residents), really need 2 community centers?
And “Regardless of ownership, officials agree the wood frame building, located in the town’s historic district, needs to be preserved.” Really? Why? What is so special about it? There are no architectural features about that building that make it worth spending almost $2M on. For that amount of money, you could probably tear the thing down and build a brand new one that is energy efficient and would only need minimal maintenance for the next 20 years.
It amazes me the money that is wasted. These are federal tax dollars that are sent back to the States as grants. It is not free money because there is no such thing.
$50,000 seems excessive for administrative cost, is there an itemized list to show how this figure was obtained? This reminds me of some charities that I have come across that have 30-40% of donated funds designated for “administrative” cost.
Lets see the bids for the engineering and other cost. Why isn’t Century being wise, requiring contractors to bid on jobs, instead of being willy-nilly with the checkbook. There needs to be more accountability for the money!!!!
Instead of Century loaning money, let them fix these things. Then let the black community FIX the “Carver Community Center”
Y’all need to worried about fixing water leaks and other stuff around the town then an old building that y’all going to fix up then people over there going to break windows not take care of it yell can’t even get get jobs up here century is sorry place other comments are right that should be use for anyone white or black but people not just for the black community for the women to say that that was not right
In re: Helen Mincy’s statement: Deeding property that, in essence, belongs to all taxpayers to a particular racial group is in fact racist. It also deprives those who are not of that race rightful ownership of that property, as well as denying them any say in how it is used, even though they must pay taxes to support and to maintain it.
With all the bad press for Century… (not from there only get my information from NorthEscambia.com) are there not a 1000 other things that Century needs to invest 3+ million dollars in?
Sounds like a waste of money… and Mrs Mincy… If it was that important to the “black” community why hasn’t the “black” community kept it maintained like they do their neighborhoods and town.
Funny how for some reason its not racist to claim something was for a certain demographic of community members… wonder how it would go over to claim something was given to the white community…