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Scripps Florida opens temporary facility

Gov. Jeb Bush says disputes stalling the planned Scripps campus in Palm Beach County can be resolved.

By KRIS HUNDLEY
Published March 12, 2005

JUPITER - While the site of its permanent Palm Beach County campus is being challenged in court, Scripps Florida celebrated an interim victory Friday with the opening of a temporary home on the Jupiter campus of Florida Atlantic University.

But at the same time, Palm Beach County officials used the event to say they are planning a second Scripps building at the Florida Atlantic campus largely because Scripps may be headquartered at the school longer than anyone expected.

County officials at the ribbon-cutting said the legal dispute over the Mecca Farms site, which the county is under contract to develop for Scripps, could take 18 months to four years to resolve.

Environmental groups have sued to block the project on Mecca Farms.

With three protesters cordoned off at a distance, Gov. Jeb Bush and other dignitaries basked in proof that a plan launched in October 2003 to bring California-based Scripps to Florida was moving forward despite the delays.

"This is ample evidence that, while there has been lots of focus on land-use decisions, Scripps has been recruiting young people who see the magic of this effort," Bush said after touring the facility.

"It's a respite from political science to a focus on life science."

Some 80 newly recruited Scripps scientists and support staff have moved into the 40,000-square-foot building, constructed in less than 14 months. The county covered the project's $12-million cost, with Florida Atlantic repaying $10-million over the next five years. The second building is expected to have a financing plan similar to the first.

"Scripps has a deliverable to meet," said Frank Brogan, Florida Atlantic's president, referring to the institute's contract with the state, which is underwriting its Florida operation with $369-million in public money. "And it's clear to reasonable people that there are going to be delays."

Environmental and antisprawl groups have sued to stop construction of the Scripps campus on Mecca Farms, a 1,900-acre orange grove in western Palm Beach County.

Hearings were held on the lawsuits this week, but the county is doing preliminary preparation of 500 acres on the site that have received permits.

On Friday, earthmovers filled in canals on the Mecca Farms property, but the county does not expect to begin construction until the lawsuits are resolved.

Peter Shultz of Hobe Sound was one of the trio of demonstrators on hand at the Florida Atlantic ribbon-cutting to express his opposition to the Mecca Farms site and Scripps. Dressed in a hazardous materials suit and pink hard hat, he said the site would destroy a nearby wildlife preserve and introduce hazardous materials into his community.

"Plus, I oppose corporate welfare," he said. "If Scripps takes taxpayers' money to develop medicines, the patents should belong to the taxpayers."

Bush, meanwhile, said he was certain the site dispute could be resolved.

"There's ample opportunity for people concerned about the environment to work in good faith, and I encourage them to begin the process of mediation," he said. "If there are legitimate concerns, they can be worked out."

Scripps representatives said the site controversy has had little effect on their recruiting efforts.

The Florida Atlantic building is expected to be near capacity with about 130 researchers by year end.

And philanthropists in Palm Beach County are showing their support. At Friday's gathering, Bush told 400 invited guests that Wilma and George Elmore, founders of Hardrives Inc., a road construction business, had pledged $1-million to name a building on Scripps' permanent campus.

That brings the total raised from state residents to nearly $5-million.

Dr. Richard Lerner, president of Scripps Research Institute, said progress on his organization's Florida expansion has gained momentum.

"This ball is running downhill toward success," Lerner said. "And the best thing we can do is get out of its way and let it roll."

Kris Hundley can be reached at hundley@sptimes.com or 727 892-2996.

[Last modified March 12, 2005, 00:48:09]