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Plans for East Hill Publix moving forward

December 11, 2014
/ Carlton Proctor
/ early-learning

Plans to locate a Publix supermarket in East Hill on the site of the former A.V. Clubbs School are moving forward, with closing sale of the property expected in February. “We are in very active negotiations with the developer at this time,” said Shawn Dennis, assistant superintendent of operations for the Escambia County School District, which owns the property. Dennis said White Development Co. of Clearwater is developing the property for Publix. While a final sale price has not yet been negotiated, Dennis said the property’s most recent appraisal is $970,000. “There is an item on this month’s (School Board) agenda that will speak to a proposed closing sale of the property in February, Dennis said. Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens said the Lakeland-based company has a policy of not commenting on any proposed project without a signed lease in hand. However, White Development representatives did go before the City Planning Board last month seeking approval to put parking on the west side of the property. That request was approved by the Planning Board, said Sherry Morris, Planning Services administrator for the city. “We don’t have a lot of details from Publix at this time,” Morris said. “I believe they are in the ‘due diligence’ phase.” However, Morris did say, given the property’s current zoning and surface area, the proposed supermarket likely would be in the range of 29,000 square feet, or less. The A.V. Clubbs site is nearly an entire city block, facing Cervantes between 12th and 11th avenues. Several members of the public attended the November Planning Board meeting, with some voicing support for revitalizing the vacant building and returning it to the tax rolls. Others expressed concerns about increased traffic, and light and noise pollution that a grocery store would bring to the neighborhood. During the November meeting Board Chairman Paul Ritz said he was pleased with the proposed layout of store’s footprint and parking lot, and noted that the developer planned to save several trees on the site. Board member Kurt Larson asked about traffic impact on the neighborhood. Member Scott Sallis said the city’s engineering department will study the location and determine whether stop signs and other traffic controls will be necessary, should the project get city approval. The Planning Board’s decision to allow commercial parking in a residential area was approved 4-2. The developer still has to come back and get approval for architecture and development plans before construction can begin.

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Plans for East Hill Publix moving forward

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