Gulfport bows to outcry: will patch up Scout Hall

GULFPORT -- One thing is certain about Scout Hall: Residents want it and the City Council said they could keep it -- Scout's honor.

During a special meeting Thursday night, the City Council voted 5-0 to preserve the 1920s building that has served as a meeting place for civic organizations since it was donated to the city in 1937.

Council members don't know how they will do it or how much it will cost to restore the old Pentecostal church at 5313 28th Ave. S, but the public outcry persuaded the council to preserve it.

"I have no nostalgia for Scout Hall. I was one of the original voters to (say) tear it down and do something with the area," said Dawn Fisher, council member of District 2. "And then all the residents started showing up, and I started getting calls, and people said, "please save it.' I changed my mind. . . . I'm for trying to save the building in any way we can."

The public debate on Scout Hall started when architects were hired in June 2000 to assess the soundness of the building. Estimates for restoration, bringing the building up to code, and meeting Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, hovered around $250,000. The majority of the council thought it better to find another meeting location for Scouts and tear the old building down.

At Thursday's meeting, City Manager Bob Lee presented to the council four options for Scout Hall:

-- A complete renovation of Scout Hall. Cost: $250,000;

-- Raze the building and provide more green space. Cost: $4,000;

-- Make minimal renovations so building can continue to be used as a meeting place. No estimate.

-- Make minimal renovations and use the facility as a historical exhibit only.

While deciding between the options, Gulfport resident and Scout mom Barbara Moore asked the council to think about, "How do you want to spend your money? How do you want to invest in the community for generations to come?" Moore said she thought the answer was in the third option.

Art Padula, chairman of the Gulfport Scout Hall Restoration Committee, said many residents have come forward to volunteer their skills and materials to renovate the hall. He estimates that the costs would total $100,000, and he thinks donations could take care of half of that amount.

Resident and Historic Preservation Committee member Emmett Walsh is an architect and had issues with the original renovation report, in which it was estimated costs for meeting ADA standards would reach $50,000. He said having the building meet the ADA standards is the right thing to do, but it is not required that all standards are met. Nor, said Walsh, would the building have to be brought up to all current building codes.

"When I first heard the bids for Scout Hall I was kind of upset, $250,000 is a lot of money," said council member Larry Cooper, District 4. "To be honest with you, we probably could have saved a lot of time and aggravation on a lot of people's part if at that moment we went and gotten some other bids."

He said the city should pursue the third option and go ahead and get the job done.

In the end, the rest of the council agreed and passed a resolution requesting the city staff to pursue costs and funding for the third option.

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