Pasco County plans to close on property July 26 in Holiday, where a low barrier shelter may be developed to temporarily house homeless people on an emergency basis.
The decision to purchase the 2.18-acre site at 2654 Grand Blvd. and 2706 Grand Blvd. for $775,000 was approved by a unanimous vote of the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners during its July 9 meeting.
There is currently a 5,792-square-foot building on the property Rosemary J. Billingsley has agreed to sell to Pasco County. The proposed purpose of that building will be to provide a place where homeless residents can do their dining, laundry and other activities, according to Cathy Pearson, assistant county administrator for public services.
However, it’s not clear if that building will be able to be used, due to a significant amount of renovations that need to be made, according to Andrew Baxter, the county’s facilities management director.
It might be necessary to demolish the existing building on the property and construct a new one that could serve as a community center for homeless people who are temporarily living at the shelter, Pearson said.
A timeline for the development of the actual homeless shelter hasn’t been set.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds will be used to purchase the property. The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development has provided those funds to the county, according to Pearson.
The closing date of July 26 has been set to purchase the property so the county may use CDBG money allocated for the current fiscal year.
A Request for Proposals will eventually be advertised by Pasco County to find a not-for-profit organization to operate the homeless shelter.
It is hoped that up to 50 pallet homes can be placed on the property, according to Pearson.
“A pallet home is often much like it sounds: a small house built with pallets,” according to an online article on the House Digest website. “However, as this initiative continues to develop, the name has come to reference houses that happen to be shipped on pallets but are manufactured with materials that can withstand the elements.
“Durable materials such as aluminum and reinforced plastics ensure that these homes can last for well over 10 years and serve as many people as possible.”
It would be good, said Pearson, if the pallet homes — also known by some as tiny homes — that were placed on the property on Grand Boulevard would enable residents to dine and do their own laundry, too.
In other business, commissioners:
- Recognized Sarah Alway as the 2024 Dan Webster Youth Innovator of the Year. Alway has received three promotions during the two-and-a-half years she has worked for the Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC).
Formed in 1987, (Pasco EDC) is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes countywide economic development, and continues to be a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. It’s the lead economic development organization dedicated to the overall growth and prosperity of Pasco County through the development of a sustainable and diversified economy.
Alway received a $5,000 scholarship as a result of receiving the award. Alway said she would use that money to pay for additional classes she needs to take to achieve the designation of certified economic developer (CEcD). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Science in Economic Development, and also serves on several different committees and advisory boards.
- Recognized Patrice Monaco-McBride for her accomplishments during the 15 years she has worked for the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office. A resolution the commissioners adopted said, in part:
“Ms. Monaco-McBride has been an integral part of the Office of the Clerk & Comptroller, and has developed and maintained, in an ever-changing environment, a highly effective and efficient Inspector General Department built on professionalism and integrity. Ms. Monaco-McBride’s expertise and organizational knowledge in the performance of her duties had a positive impact on the operations of the Board of County Commissioners and the Office of the Clerk & Comptroller.”
She started working for the clerk’s office on Sept. 15, 2008. Her retirement will be effective on July 19.
- Received a proposed budget submitted by Pasco County Property Appraiser Mike Wells for fiscal year 2024-2025 requesting $7,966,85 for his department for the new fiscal year that will begin Oct. 1, 2024 and end on Sept. 30, 2025. This is a proposed increase of $443,856, or 5.9%, over the budget of $7,523,002 that Wells’ office has for the current fiscal year ending on Sept. 30.
- Agreed to amend an agreement to a contract with B.R.W. Contracting Inc. for work the company will be doing for the Old Pasco Road improvements project. Pasco County will be paying B.R.W. a grand total of $29,761,758.27. The amendment, which added $7,778,717.83 to the contract, is to extend the construction of a four-lane urban typical section with 5-foot bicycle lanes on both sides, a 6-foot sidewalk on the west side, and a 12-foot multi-use path on the east side to the Coyote Way/Sedgeway Boulevard intersection, which is an increase of approximately 0.70 miles. “The extension provides connected pedestrian and bicycle facilities and needed roadway capacity to the Cypress Creek school campus, improving safety for all roadway users,” according to a county memo. “The amendment results in substantial time and cost savings to the county by precluding the need for a separate solicitation for the shorter additional length of road.”
Published July 17, 2024
