Headlines on PNJ.com: This is the news from Wednesday, August 28
Old, abandoned state hospital in N. Palafox listed for $2 million, Santa Rosa explores interest in a water sports center and Four Winds Fine Foods remodels
Looking to invest in a prime piece of Pensacola real estate near downtown? The old Escambia County Medical Center Clinic at 1750 N. Palafox is for sale for $1,990,000. The long-vacant building’s condition leaves much to be desired, but the location is in a neighborhood that is growing and slated for government improvements.
People who live and work nearby say they would like to see something – anything – done with this dilapidated behemoth with its broken windows and overgrown vegetation, which some call an “eyesore” and a hindrance to progress.
Dana Grimes sits at the bus stop in front of the building almost every day when she comes to the neighboring facility for medical treatment. She has been coming for treatment for 15 years and has witnessed the slow deterioration of the building.
“I think it’s an impressive old building,” Grimes said, glancing at the property behind the bus stop. “The history behind it is really interesting. I went to look at it because I was curious. I wish they would do something with it though because I hate it falling apart. Every day I hear weird noises in there. Weird stuff. It used to be a hospital so who knows but I’m sure the neighbors don’t like the disrepair it brings. Everyone here talks about it.”
How did the old state hospital come to this state?
Built in 1954, remodeled in the 1970s, the four-story medical building, with its nearly 60,000 square feet, was a busy, productive state hospital and health department for decades. For about two decades, the old clinic has served as little more than a reminder of a bygone architectural era and an occasional shelter for the homeless, though it is surrounded by a chain-link fence with “No Trespassing” signs.
The building had been vacant for 12 years since Hurricane Ivan when the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority purchased the property for $637,000 in early 2016. The ECUA said at the time that there were problems with black mold and had the building evaluated by architects and engineers.
In late 2016, ECUA divided 1750 N. Palafox into several lots and sold the building to a company called Real Business Consultants, Inc. The building portion of the property sold for $75,000, according to records on the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s website.
ECUA also built a large wastewater tank at the back of the former hospital site as an emergency reserve. At the time, the tank plan angered some North Hill neighbors so much that they filed a lawsuit to stop it, but their efforts were unsuccessful. In 2020, ECUA sold two more pieces of the former hospital site, and one was also sold to Real Business Consultants.
Who owns 1750 N. Palafox now?
According to Sunbiz, the state’s official online directory for Florida businesses, the owner, Real Business Consultants, Inc., is a “foreign for-profit corporation” headquartered in Great Neck, New York. Efforts to reach company representatives were unsuccessful, and requests for information from several real estate agents with listing firm Engel & Volkers received little to no response.
Old building on Palafox is demolished: The old Escambia probation building was demolished. Why it was demolished.
The property at 1750 N. Palafox was originally listed for $2.7 million in June and in August the price was reduced to $1.9 million. The listing states that “architectural plans for this building are available upon request,” adding that “with over $54 million in government funding being pumped into Pensacola, this investment has HUGE upside potential with little downside risk. After a complete renovation, this property is projected to have an impressive return on investment, making it a vessel for financial freedom.”
“If this information is not enough to grab your attention, you may want to see the expected increase in value after delivery of the subject property. Unrepresented investors are welcome and can view the property upon request within 24 to 48 hours. The interior is messy but intact,” the listing states.
What will happen to the property in Pensacola?
The Parlor Room salon owner and stylist Todd Morris purchased the early 20th century home across from the former hospital in 2021. He has worked hard to restore and improve the former home that houses his business, The Parlor Room salon. He is happy to see other businesses and nonprofits opening their doors nearby, but believes the run-down property is slowing development momentum.
“It’s a huge piece of land that’s obviously very important in this area for aesthetic reasons,” Morris said. “It can be turned into so many different things. It has potential that’s just there, and I think it’s changed hands a couple of times, and I saw movement there, and I got excited, and then it stopped. I’d just love to see something valuable go across the street instead. I mean, it’s prime real estate.”
Over the years, the building, which is zoned C-3 and allows a range of commercial and professional uses, was considered as a residential or holistic services center for the homeless, among other options. However, the building would have required rehabilitation and the plans fell through.
Could the property benefit from Pensacola’s Hollice T. Williams Greenway plan?
The site of the former Escambia Medical Center Clinic is located between N. Palafox and Guillemard Streets, and the rear of the property overlooks Long Hollow Retention Pond, a series of man-made lakes bordering nearby Interstate-110.
Since 2004, the City of Pensacola and Escambia County have been working on a plan to improve the park under I-110, transforming it into a green space with walking trails, new park amenities, and a new stormwater treatment system.
The construction and opening of the Blake Doyle Skate Park was the first phase of this plan, but the long-term plan calls for a 1.3-mile corridor under the highway that would include the area behind the old hospital. However, it will be years before funding and groundbreaking for the entire project is secured.
Can the city’s parking plan help?: Hollice T. Williams’ plan aims to create an “iconic green spine” through Pensacola. What you should know
Melanie Nichols, a longtime North Hill resident and business owner, is excited about the possibility that the old hospital could be sold and the property somehow enhanced as part of the park project.
“The pictures they drew to sell the plan to the community showed that the pond was a park that was going to be completely connected to Hollis T. Williams Park,” Nichols said. “They showed picnic tables, they showed pictures of little kids with sailboats on the pond. That was part of the selling point because the pond had to be built as a stormwater retention basin for the new highway. When we did our research on it, we just thought, ‘Oh my God, this could be so beautiful.’ There’s a beautiful view of the lake from this building, so I really think something good could happen there whether they tear it down or redevelop it.”
The dilapidated building is in Pensacola City Councilwoman Teniadé Broughton’s district. Like the property’s neighbors, she wants to improve the area and sees the potential to incorporate the plans for 1750 N. Palafox into the city’s vision for an inner-city green space.
“I see the benefit of opening it up and turning it into a destination through a stormwater park that will be converted to a lake,” Broughton said. “I would like to call it Long Hollow Lake instead of Long Hollow Stormwater Pond. Then you can build a trail around it and people can enjoy it.”
Future plans for the property uncertain
Whatever happens to the property, neighbors and local politicians do not want 1750 N. Palafox to remain the eyesore it has become.
“You know, you’ll have a view, and it could be something great, but I just don’t know any concrete plans and I don’t know who’s going to pay $2 million for it,” Morris said.
District redevelopment: Pensacola is working “aggressively” to develop a plan to restore the neighborhood “lost” by I-110
Although the building has been cited dozens of times over the years for various complaints of building code violations, including graffiti, overgrowth and grounds maintenance, all complaints have been addressed. The city’s building codes department recently cited Real Business Consultants, which also owns the property behind the building, for the accumulation of trash such as concrete debris and overgrowth that they want removed at the corner of Avery and Guillemard streets.
Broughton is glad the city will retain control of the property until something happens with it.
“If it can be saved, which I doubt, and redeveloped, I’d be for it, but even if it has to be torn down to make room for something else, I’d be for it. I just don’t want to see our neighborhoods taken advantage of. They’re not investing in our city. They’re taking advantage of our city by buying up land,” Broughton said.
