New Path Academy drops plans to take over Rubonia Community Center

RUBONIA -- The Rubonia Community Center will remain closed for now.

New Path Academy, which submitted the sole proposal to Manatee County to acquire and operate the center, has decided not to pursue the opportunity any longer.

In an email sent Tuesday afternoon, Jennifer Radebach, president and CEO of New Path Academy, announced the nonprofit's decision.

"After thorough discovery, meetings, discussions and thoughtful consideration, the Board and CEO of New Path Academy have decided to decline further pursuance of the Rubonia Community Center ITN," Radebach said in the email. "The Rubonia Community Center is immensely historically significant to the people of the community and we would only embark on this journey if we felt we had all the resources and support necessary to be successful for the people of Rubonia. Unfortunately at this time we feel Manatee County government and the Rubonia Community Association should seek other alternatives to fulfill the ITN. This decision was not made lightly and was only made after consulting experts in construction, education, government, financial and legal fields."

New Path Academy, in partnership with two other organizations, wanted to "provide senior services, before and after school care, teen ser

vices and sports programs ranging from recreational to intramural to competitive," according to the proposal submitted to acquire and operate the center, 1309 72nd St. E., which has been closed since 2013.

The Rubonia neighborhood is off U.S. 41, between Palmetto and Interstate 275. The center, which needs more than $133,300 in repairs, was deeded to the county from the Manatee County School Board in October 2014.

Commissioner Charles Smith read Radebach's email with the other commissioners during Tuesday's meeting.

"That is definitely a blow," Smith said after reading the email.

New Path Academy submitted the proposal in partnership with Rubonia Community Association and the Panda Foundation.

In January, the Panda Foundation dropped out from the proposal, said Cheri Coryea, county neighborhood services director.

While it is early since the county just received the news, the county plans to come up with an alternate plan, Coryea said.

"We do plan to put together an alternative plan and bring that back to the county administrator and discuss it," she said. "It's our goal, as directed by the board and the County Administrator's Office, to provide an option for citizens and youth out there."

Since the county only received one proposal through the invitation to negotiate process, Coryea said she's "not sure whether that would be the avenue we would go."

"The county has been ready to finalize the project since Dec. 15," she said. "We have been in negotiations with New Path Academy since that time."

New Path Academy will continue operating its Rubonia location at 712 Palmview Road, Palmetto, Radebach said in the email.

"We wish the residents of Rubonia a bright future and look forward to positive steps being taken toward the reopening of the Rubonia Community Center," she said.

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 11:22 PM with the headline "New Path Academy drops plans to take over Rubonia Community Center ."