NEW PORT RICHEY – Pasco County commissioners agreed at their Nov. 10 meeting to spend up to $1,070,111.36 to have construction completed on what will be the East Pasco Senior Center.
Ryman Construction of Florida Inc.began constructing the 7,334-square-foot building located at 13906 Fourth St. in Dade City while Community Aging & Retirement Services Inc. (CARES) owned it.
Pasco County obtained the 1.734-acre property free of charge from CARES, on Nov. 4.
The transfer of the partially constructed building and property from the nonprofit to the county was made because CARES had been experiencing financial difficulties for the past several months and lacked funds to complete construction of the building.
The agreement with Ryman’s allows them to resume construction of the building as soon as possible so the work could be completed in approximately 210 days.
This means the East Pasco Senior Center could possibly open in July 2025.
Pasco County received a $1.3 million grant from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs to cover the cost of completing construction of the building.
The county’s current senior center is located at 13853 15th St., in Dade City. It is 10 blocks from the new location. The services at the current senior center will be relocated to 13906 Fourth St. once that building is ready for occupancy, according to Brian Hoben, the county’s community services director.
In other business on Dec. 10, commissioners:
- Appointed board leadership for the upcoming year: Kathryn Starkey (chair), Jack Mariano (vice chair) and Seth Weightman (second vice chair).
- Approved the term sheet of an economic development agreement between Pasco County and a proposed project known as Legacy Wiregrass Ranch. Commissioners directed staff to draft a formal agreement. The proposed project will consist of apartments and townhomes, retail, hotel/conference and office uses supported by structured parking. Wiregrass is seeking public funding assistance for public infrastructure in the first phase of the project. When completed, it will serve as a downtown for Wesley Chapel and provide amenities and services to area residents and businesses while serving as an economic growth driver for that area of the county.The developer is investing $84.5 million in public infrastructure. Wiregrass Ranch is requesting funding support via $50 million in property tax rebates paid over a maximum term of 30 years as a partial cost reimbursement for permitting, designing and constructing the public infrastructure. Wiregrass Ranch has agreed to reserve 1,225,000 square feet of office and 230,000 square feet of light industrial within the existing DRI in return for the property tax rebates.
- Approved the establishment of The Preserve at Legends Pointe Community Development District in an unincorporated area of Pasco County. The district, which consists of 107.4 acres, is generally located north of State Road 52, south of Hudson Avenue, east of Hicks Road and due west of Hays Road. It encompasses a portion of the Legends Pointe Phase 3 Master Planned Unit Development.
- Approved a substantial modification of the conditions of approval for part of the Wiregrass Master Planned Unit Development known as the Promenade Business Center. The Promenade Business Center covers roughly 77.08 acres of the entire 1,036.01-acre development area. The business center is located adjacent to Curley Road and bisected by Overpass Road. One of the adjustments includes the donation of a 2.142-acre site to Pasco County for the future construction of a library.
