by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Brewster Hospital, one of the city’s oldest and most dilapidated landmarks, is enduring yet another round of potential redevelopment solutions.
Working from two potential sites where the building could be relocated, Mayor John Peyton’s office is hoping to get the local Historic Preservation Commission, the City Council and state on the same page.
Brewster, Jacksonville’s first African-American medical facility, should have been moved from its Monroe Street location in LaVilla years ago to make way for a new medical complex.
Architect Ted Pappas entered into that agreement with the City in 2000. However, legislation that would earmark $800,000 to pay for Brewster’s move and subsequent minor upgrades has languished in the Council’s Recreation and Community Development Committee for months.
The Finance Committee recommended approval of the bill last year.
A major factor behind the delay are Brewster advocates, which include outspoken City Council member Glorious Johnson. Advocates are against relocating the hospital, saying the City would be forfeiting the state and federal grants needed to completely restore it and available for occupancy.
According to a City appraisal, those restorations will cost approximately $1.7 million.
“We need that money and if we go ahead and move Brewster, we’ve been told by the state that we will no longer be a priority to them,” Johnson said. “I don’t want that to happen.”
Lisa Rowe, a Peyton policy director, is hopeful a compromise can be made whereby funds are awarded and legal action from Pappas avoided.
“We understand the RCD Committee wants to be sure Brewster remains eligible for funding,” Rowe said, “and we are in the process of working with the state and the local preservation commission to see what can be done.”
Part of that process, she said, will involve getting all parties to agree on the best site for Brewster.
That hasn’t been an easy task.
In October, the HPC granted permission to move the building to the corner of Monroe and Jefferson. State and federal boards have approved a vacant plot located just one block east on the corner of Monroe and Davis.
“We are sending a letter to the state to let them know what our local HPC has determined to be the best potential site,” she said. “We want to let them know that, if we move it there, we would do our best to maintain Brewster Hospital’s integrity and historical significance. We want them to understand that this is a valid project and that we would greatly value their support of it.”
Rowe said that it was “not a done deal” but, if convinced, the state could award grants to pay for as much as half the betterment of Brewster.
“It will be a top priority to find and secure those grants,” she said.
If a compromise cannot be reached at the state level — Rowe was unsure when the state would make a ruling — the City will make an appeal at the next HPC meeting on March 23, in an effort to sell the federally approved Monroe/Davis site.