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Helicopter Technologies Building Up For Sale For $1.75 Million; Century Council Member Upset
May 22, 2008
The building occupied by Helicopter Technologies in the Century Industrial Park has been listed for sale for $1.75 million, and that has one Century councilman upset.
“He’s trying to sell the property out from under our noses,” Councilman Henry Hawkins said of Georges Van Nevel and Helicopter Technologies.
Helicopter Technologies was raided by federal agents back in January, and then fell behind on is payments to the town for the building. Van Nevel then agreed to a new payment plan proposed by the town, according to Mayor Freddie McCall, and he has stuck to that plan, making payments as agreed.
The real estate listings for the “immaculate office/warehouse building” were placed on February 5 of this year according to data in the PensacolaMLS, the official site of the Pensacola Association of Realtors. It is listed with NAI Halford Commercial Estate with agent Theresa Ritchie. It is also listed on commercial real estate website loopnet.com.
Click here to see the Loopnet.com listing for the building (pdf).
“It was brought up last year why we sell, not lease,” Hawkins said. “We should never sell property in the industrial park. We should hire a real estate agent to straighten this mess out.”
According to documents obtained by NorthEscambia.com, the property was sold by the Town of Century on January 19, 2001, for the sum of $10 “and other good and valuable consideration” to Helicopter Technologies, Inc. It was signed by then-mayor Benny Barnes.
Click here to read the $10 sale document (pdf).
On January 23, 2001, a mortgage agreement was entered into by the Town of Century and Helicopter Technologies for $420,000 according to additional documents obtained by NorthEscambia.com. That mortgage is why Helicopter Technologies is currently making payments to the town each month.
“We need to pull the contract,” Hawkins said. “He has already defaulted. We need to lease the property while we have the chance.”
“We have entered into another agreement, have we not?” council member Anne Brooks asked McCall.
“Yes,” McCall answered.
“As long as he is living up to it, I don’t think we should turn our backs on that agreement,” Brooks said.
Searching records at the Escambia County Clerks office where mortgages and other real estate documents are normally officially filed, NorthEscambia.com was unable to locate any recent formal legal agreement between the Town of Century and Helicopter Technologies.
“I’m sticking to my guns,” Hawkins said. “We need to do something now. We need to lease not sell property.”
Attempts to reach Helicopter Technologies for comment were unsuccessful.
Pictured above: The ad listing the Helicopter Technologies building for sale for $1.75 million. Pictured below: The interior on the Helicopter Technologies building in the Century Industrial Park. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.
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