The county plans to give away the former Hudson library building. Six nonprofit groups have put in requests.
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published October 15, 2003
HUDSON - One free building. Six nonprofits in need.
One tough choice for the County Commission.
A half-dozen groups have put in requests to take over the former Hudson library building, a flood-prone structure that the county plans to give away.
Two veterans groups, two boating groups, Hudson Seafest, Habitat for Humanity - they all have proposals for using the pale blue stucco building at 14120 Old Dixie Highway, said county real estate manager Richard Sliz.
The competition is so tough that county staffers won't pick a favorite, Sliz said. The decision will rest with the county commissioners, who will consider the proposals at their meeting Nov. 4.
"It's real hard for staff to come up with one over another," Sliz said.
The 3,900-square-foot structure, originally home to Hudson's volunteer firefighters, was a library until the new Hudson Regional Library opened in 1990. Then it became home to two nonprofits.
The building became available this year after the latest occupant, the Foundation for Computer Education, closed its doors. Commissioners agreed in August to seek nonprofits that could use the building.
The interested groups are:
Hudson Seafest. The group sponsors the annual seafood festival that raises money for scholarships and charities. It wants to combine the library site with the neighboring Hudson Community Club, creating a community center and neighborhood park where children could play baseball and soccer. The group has set aside $20,000 for the project.
West Pasco Habitat for Humanity. The group builds low-cost homes for families who otherwise couldn't afford a house. It would use the building for a "restore," where donated construction materials would be sold to the public to raise money for Habitat projects. In a letter to the county, board member Peter Wansboro said the group could fix the building's flooding problem by altering the entrance.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4412. The group provides citizen education, co-sponsors CPR classes, donates to community groups and volunteers at the VA Medical Center in Tampa. It would use the building for its programs and make it available to other groups.
Italian American War Veterans Post 8. The club provides support for veterans at the VA Medical Center in Tampa. It wants a headquarters and a place to host social events and fundraisers.
FINS, or the Foundation for Instruction in Navigation and Seamanship. The group provides training and support for Sea Scouts Ship 967, a coed seamanship program chartered by the Boy Scouts of America. FINS would use the building as a meeting hall and training center, to be shared with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and other nonprofits.
BERTHA, or Boating Education and Rescue Training, Hudson Area. The club supports the Coast Guard Auxiliary. It would use the building for office space and boating safety classes.
It's possible that a couple of groups could get the building, if they're willing to share the space. The 0.65-acre site is valued at $74,950, according to property appraiser records.
All the building needs is a good cleaning and some basic maintenance, Sliz said.
"The building is in pretty good shape," he said.
- Bridget Hall Grumet can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com
