Work to begin on public restrooms

With volunteers doing most of the work, Dade City officials don't know when the restrooms downtown will be opened.

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 3, 2000

DADE CITY -- After years of planning and proposals, downtown merchants are planning to break ground Wednesday on long-awaited public restrooms.

The free-standing, single-story structure housing men's and women's facilities will go up on a plot next to the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce headquarters, according to Nancy Johnson, a Downtown Dade City Main Street board member who is spearheading the effort.

Johnson said she expects the restrooms to be ready for public use sometime this year, but with nearly every facet depending on volunteer labor, much of it to be done at night and on weekends, no target date has been set.

"This is really wonderful," Johnson said. "Everyone is doing so much to help."

Donors for the $40,000 project include the Dade City Rotary Club, Main Street, the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, Pasco Community Hospital, Citrus Chrysler and a host of other residents and businesses.

"People have donated money, promised their labor and donated so much material," Johnson said.

Local builder Carl Gude is coordinating the construction with the help of numerous area craftspeople who are donating labor for everything from the roofing to the floors.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday, after the downtown merchants association meeting finishes. Johnson said city officials, merchants and the public are invited.

"It's exciting to be part of this," she said. "It really is a community project."

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