by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Local Salvation Army representatives are hopeful a portion of an estimated $1.5 billion donation from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, wife of McDonald’s Corporation founder Ray Kroc, will make its way to Jacksonville.
The money, which has been specifically designated for the development of community centers across the country, is expected to be divided into equal amounts and distributed to the four geographic territories.
However, an advisory group charged with determining regional dollar amounts has yet to be assembled.
“We’ll definitely need local representation on that committee before we’ll know how much money is coming here,” said Tania Yount, Salvation Army development director. “It’s really too early to tell, but I know they’re still looking for people to serve on it.
“I can say that Jacksonville and St. Augustine are both primed for additional funding because we have some much needed programs in place and this can be a great opportunity for us to link them together.”
Local Salvation Army Area Commander Karol Seiler agreed, saying she would welcome the opportunity to advocate Jacksonville’s needs on the advisory committee.
“It’s a long process and no one’s been asked yet, but it would be nice to serve on the committee because then we’ll know, from the horse’s mouth, what the guidelines are and what to expect,” said Seiler. “Nationwide, this is a very exciting time for The Salvation Army.”
However, Seiler and Yount added that any increased funding from Kroc’s estate would carry a burden of its own.
“It would be absolutely wonderful to see some of that money have an impact, locally,” she said, “but people don’t understand all of the operating costs associated with a new center. They aren’t covered by the donation.”
To keep the centers open, Yount said bolstered fundraising efforts would be required.
While there is some uncertainty over the Kroc money, the organization has received approximately $4.5 million from the Department of Housing and Urban development, which will be used to build a senior assisted living center downtown.
According to Yount, the center’s estimated $3.5 million construction costs, will be funded entirely by the grant.
“We’re working through the preliminary details right now, but it should cover the entire project as well as the first year’s operating costs,” she said.
Designed by architect Arthur Schuldt, the proposed five-story building, likely to be built on a parcel of land bordering Main and Church streets, will feature 60 units and 30 parking spaces outlining its permitter.
The Salvation Army took ownership of the land in 1977, and it has been used as a parking lot since then.
Schuldt, a partner with Shreveport-based SGB Architects, based his design on a feasibility study conducted by The Salvation Army last spring.
SGB has worked on similar projects in South Florida and North Carolina.
“We were supposed to hear back from HUD in October so it was nice to finally get the news,” said Yount. “We all feel very validated right now.”
Yount declined to speculate on when construction would begin or when the center would open.
“It’s hard to say, but we have a lot of work ahead of us,” she said.