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Chamber to study joint-use building
By BOB McCLURE
| Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/102307_smb-02.jpg) |
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| This is an artist’s rendition of the proposed joint-use community building that would house the Seminole Chamber of Commerce and the Seminole Historical Society. |
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SEMINOLE – The Seminole Chamber of Commerce has decided to further investigate a proposed joint-use community building with the city to see if the concept is in the best interests of the organization.
The chamber’s board of directors met Oct. 17 and appointed Jim Olliver, Dr. Sandra Lilo, Harold “Doc” Kinsey, Dr. Ed Lurie, Bob Castles, Paul Ziegler and Tim Schuler to a study committee.
“We’ve been asked to meet and look into all the facts and make a recommendation to the board if we want to move forward with the city on this project,” said Olliver, who chairs the committee.
The committee will look at all criteria involved in the proposed project and report its findings to the board on Dec. 19.
At a future date, the full chamber membership will be polled on whether the organization should move forward on the project, according to chamber president John Watkins.
Among the concerns is whether the chamber should hand over the deed to its current site at 8400 113th St. N., to the city, which currently owns the other two lots to the immediate north of the current chamber site.
The city has proposed a two-story, 9,128-square-foot building on the three lots that would serve as headquarters for the chamber and the Seminole Historical Society.
The city would use between $1.4 million and $1.6 million in Penny for Pinellas funds to construct the building, but for that to happen the city must own all three lots.
In return, the chamber would rent space from the city for a small annual amount and the Historical Society would receive space for free.
Some chamber members wonder why the organization needs to share space with the Historical Society and believe it is better suited at its current site at the Seminole Recreation Center or the Seminole Community Library, which is planning an expansion project soon.
However, the college is experiencing major growth issues and seeking ways to expand the Seminole campus library, which it shares with the city of Seminole.
Olliver said an interior shell has been added above the current library to address the future needs of the city and the college. Finding space for the Historical Society probably isn’t an option, he said.
Other chamber members wonder why the city is interested in partnering with the chamber on the project.
According to City Manager Frank Edmunds, the city will benefit by having additional meeting space available for the public.
The meeting space would be available to civic clubs and other groups.
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Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007
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