Politics

City project could switch

After seeing the results of a feasibility study, Zephyrhills leans toward a multiuse center.

By MINDY RUBENSTEIN
Published June 26, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS - After getting the results of a feasibility study, the city has changed its focus from building a $15-million performing arts center and is leaning more toward a multi-use facility that could also be used as an evacuation shelter.

The results from a $50,000 study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers were presented at Monday's meeting, comparing the potential project to facilities like the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, built in 1999 for $4-million.

That facility, at Wesley Chapel High School, hosts about 200 events for schools throughout the district and serves as a rental venue for local arts organizations.

"Their rental rates are rather high and difficult to manage on a regular basis. So there may be an opportunity to cater to these groups," said Adam Jones with PricewaterhouseCoopers. The center also doesn't have elevated seating common in theaters.

Population in Zephyrhills is limited, but within a 5-mile radius there are more comparable markets.

Jones said the study showed a venue in Zephyrhills would boost the city's image, but responses were mixed as far as potential for the arts market, given the current demographics.

"People were pretty clear that it should be a multipurpose facility that can service a wide variety of types, including meeting and performances," he said. And area schools would like to have a place for larger events.

Demand didn't appear to be there for a stand-alone theater, but a banquet and event hall would be more feasible, including a tiered ceiling that could be retracted, with a capacity of 500 seats. The proposed facility would be about 22,500 square feet and cost up to $16.5-million to build.

An adult community theater group in east Pasco County would be key to its success. In fact, a group in the area disbanded several years ago because they didn't have a facility, he said.

The venue would potentially bring up to $180,000 a year in revenue, with about $380, 000 in operating expenses.

"This is normal," Jones said, adding that the city would need grants to offset the costs.

In response to a question from council member Celia Graham, Jones said his firm did not study where such grants could be obtained.

Council member Clyde Bracknell suggested a large building that could also be used as a shelter.

"I think it would pay for itself and accommodate people of all ages," Bracknell said.

"It's a lot of information, there's room for some thought," said City Manager Steve Spina. "It does show that there's a need for a lot of these programs here. Maybe not to the extent that some of us thought."

In other news, Pasco County Property Appraiser Mike Wells gave a rosy outlook Monday night when it comes to property values in the city and throughout the county.

"It has been my view all along that the newspapers have got it all wrong," Wells said. "A year ago the demand caught up with supply."

Sales through May 2007 are down 50 percent but prices are stable, he said. Duplexes have more than doubled since 2003.

"I don't think anyone has anything to be genuinely concerned about.

"The market is more active here and the volume of sales is higher than west Pasco," he said, adding that Zephyrhills borders the most rapidly growing part of the county, Wesley Chapel.

"Your real estate market here is stable and the market will continue to climb," he said, predicting that in the next year the inventory of new homes will be gone.

While people will keep coming to Pasco County, he said, blue-collar workers will continue to be replaced by white-collar workers from the Midwest.

The last time Wells spoke in Zephyrhills was in 1985 as a newly elected county commissioner, when he came to see if residents wanted the county to take over their library system. They didn't.

While he applauded the council's ability to attract new businesses, he cautioned against the excessive use of impact fees, which he said can be prohibitive.

"Cost of construction and impact fees has scared people away," Wells said. "I'm not scolding anybody. I was the guy that voted for the first impact fees in Pasco County."

Council president Kenneth Compton invited Wells to speak at last night's meeting about property values and taxes. "I had some concerns," Compton said.

A major point of concern is the state referendum in January. If super homestead exemption passes, his office will have to send a letter to 140,000 homesteaders saying, "This is the deal, let me know what you want to do," Wells said. "Most of them will throw it in the garbage."

[Last modified June 26, 2007, 08:24:31]