Palmetto to negotiate sale of former World War II veteran school to engineering firm
PALMETTO -- The building at 705 10th Ave. W. in Palmetto near Sutton Park is best known as the long-time home to the city's award-winning FFA chapter, but its little-known service as a site for World War II veterans to finish their high school education gives the building historical significance.
In February, the Central Redevelopment Agency issued a request for proposals to redevelop the property while preserving its historical value.
On Monday, the Palmetto City Commission unanimously approved a ranking committee's recommendation to negotiate the sale of the building to R Cubed Engineering LLC of Lusby Md., which specializes in aeronautics engineering. R3E was the top-ranked company out of six proposals.
If negotiations go as planned, R3E will purchase the property for $65,000 and invest about $250,000 into redeveloping the building with an emphasis on historical preservation.
R3E's potential acquisition is appropriate given the company ties to the U.S. Department of Defense. R3E is competing for contracts with the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA and has contracts with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.
Last July, R3E entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with the Naval Air Warfare Center to evaluate processing non-cooperative target data with the autonomous self-separation and collision avoidance system it had created. The sensor, used in unmanned drones and piloted aircraft while on auto pilot, detects other aircraft or obstacles in the air and maneuvers the aircraft away from danger.
It's just one facet of the National Air System the company is looking to headquarter in Palmetto. The company has offices in several strategic locations throughout the United States.
The proposal to redevelop the property includes creation of 10 offices, one conference room, one laboratory for research and development of
miniaturized avionics equipment and a reception area. The company will have six full-time employees with salaries topping $100,000 a year and four part-time employees with annual salaries of $50,000.
The projected annual economic impact to the city is $1.5 million a year, according to the R3E proposal.
Redevelopment will be consistent with the CRA plan of historic renovation. The building's exterior landscaping plan will compliment its neighbor Sutton by using brick-paver sidewalks and lantern lighting, according to the proposal.
The company also has a government-funded internship program for students and its founders, RaNae Contarino and Dick Healing, sit on the Embry Riddle University Advisory Board for Science and Technology.
Built in 1944 with the sole intent of educating World War II veterans, the building has served many purposes since.
It was owned by the Manatee County School District, then deeded to the city as part of a complicated deal to build the $3 million Blackstone Park Little League baseball fields, to which the city contributed $800,000.
The park opened last spring and the city sold the old school building to the CRA for $20,000 late last year. Its latest value was $60,000.
Contarino Construction, owned by Danny Contarino from Palmetto, estimates a timeline of six months to project completion upon signing of the contract.
Ward 2 Commissioner Tambra Varnadore said she is impressed with R3E's proposal.
"You are bringing an exciting field to Palmetto and creating opportunities for our youth, and then there was the preservation factor of the proposal," she said. "I thought this was a very positive move for us and I support it 100 percent."
Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter @urbanmark2014.
This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Palmetto to negotiate sale of former World War II veteran school to engineering firm."