How do you persuade someone to spend about $5 million?
Commissioners pondered the question at their July 5 meeting as they heard a staff report on the future of the historic 1927 Boynton Beach High School building.
The city has made clear its interest in seeing the 28,000-square-foot landmark on Ocean Avenue preserved and renovated. Now they must prepare a “request for proposals,” in essence a statement to potential buyers that details just what’s being offered.
At the meeting, interim City Manager Lori LaVerriere brought commissioners the results of a monthlong analysis of the school’s potential uses.
First, she said, the city staff recommends limiting the building’s use to either an educational or banqueting theme; a multi-tenant model with a single landlord leasing space for individual offices; or a multi-based use with arts and culture as the common theme.
Staff also recommends that the school be offered either for sale or lease, with the vacant lot to the west of the building, along Seacrest Boulevard, included as potential parking space.
But it was the money that got commissioners talking.
Anyone who buys or leases the building would have to spend $4 million to $5 million for renovations.
To entice prospective parties, staff suggested that the city might begin “immediate” engineering and architectural design services to stabilize the building’s core and shell.
“By doing so,” the staff wrote, “the city shows commitment to the project.”
Estimated cost: $250,000.
Furthermore, the staff recommends that the city offer to waive and pay up to $100,000 in fees, such as building permits.
Commissioners pounced. Pay to stabilize the building, or waive the fees, they seemed to agree, but not both.
“The question,” said Mayor Jose Rodriguez, “is how do we incentivize them to spend four to five million.”
“What price do we ask to sell it out and out?” wondered Commissioner Woodrow Hay.
“Have them submit an offer,” LaVerriere responded. “I wouldn’t want to put a number out there.”
At one point, Hay expressed support for the $250,000 expenditure for architectural services.
“We’d get half back,” LaVerriere noted, presumably if the permit fees were not waived.
“Let’s get it all back,” Commissioner Steven Holzman countered.
After Commissioner Bill Orlove made a motion to spend the $250,000 in lieu of waiving the fees, LaVerriere pointed out that securing that money could take as much as five months.
“Well,” said Holzman, “why not just waive the fees? That’s an incentive.”
And then there was the vacant lot to be dealt with.
“Do you want to offer that?” LaVerriere asked.
The vacant lot, it was noted, is not really vacant. A lush and venerable tree stands smack in the middle.
“The community wants the tree to stay,” Orlove said.
“Our goal is to save the building and the tree,” Rodriguez agreed.
“Our goal is to save the building,” Orlove concluded, “and the tree is up for discussion.”
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