Manatee County begins soliciting proposals for closed Rubonia Community Center

RUBONIA -- Lifelong resident Mary Brown sat inside the shutdown Rubonia Community Center, looking at where she attended school as a child and watching Manatee County officials show the center to community members who may want to operate it.

Brown, the Rubonia Community Association's chairwoman, voiced her concern about the center's future.

"This is my home," Brown said Thursday. "This is a part of me. I don't want homes on it. I want a community center. ... At this point, we shouldn't be going into negotiations. This land is history. For us to be at this point today, I'm very sensitive about it."

On Thursday afternoon, Manatee County had an information conference followed by a site tour to begin the "invitation to negotiate" process for the Rubonia Community Center, 1309 72nd St. E. About 15 people attended the meeting to learn what the county wants as it solicits propos

als to acquire and operate the community center. The Rubonia Community Center is the first property Manatee County has solicited invitation-to-negotiate offers.

The Rubonia neighborhood is off U.S. 41, between Palmetto and Interstate 275.

"It is really up to you guys to get creative and bring ideas to us," John Agostinelli, the county's property acquisition division manager, said during the meeting. "The ITN really gives the option for you to go in and do what you want to do."

The center, which was closed in 2013 and needs more than $133,300 in repairs, was deeded to the county from Manatee County School Board last October.

In the invitation to negotiate, the county is looking for a party who would be responsible for privately operating the Rubonia Community Center as a community center.

"While the county contemplates that RCC operations could include services and programs for all ages and a variety of days, time and special events, the county has been aware from discussions with the community that adult literacy, health, physical education and daily gatherings are the types of services being requested in the community," the ITN reads.

In addition to Rubonia Community Association, representatives from United Community Centers, PANDA Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County and Bayside Community Church were among the attendees Thursday.

Dawn Stanhope, president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee, noted that they've been busing Rubonia children to the Palmetto center for its summer program. The nonprofit wants to look at what an ongoing relationship might look like to provide support to the families during the school year as well.

"After the past experience over the summer and working with the kids we were able to bring into Palmetto, we wanted to keep our eyes and ears open," Stanhope said. "Rubonia is part of Manatee County. We serve Manatee County, so anything we can do to help."

Cheri Coryea, the county's neighborhood services department director, said the invitation-to-negotiate process allows different groups to collaborate.

"It's a very special location and we are looking forward to getting some great proposals," Coryea said.

Stanhope welcomed the idea of collaboration and partnership, saying that "certainly none of us can deal with it alone."

"There are so many needs," she said. "We are always looking for ways to partner."

Requests for additional information or clarification about the Rubonia Community Center ITN must be submitted to the county by 4 p.m. July 23. Proposals must be submitted by 4 p.m. Aug. 20.

For more information, call John Agostinelli, property acquisition division manager, at 941-749-3021.

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee County begins soliciting proposals for closed Rubonia Community Center ."