- May 5, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Three years after purchasing the former Ormond Beach Riverside Church property at 56 N. Beach St., the Ormond Beach City Commission has doubled down on its decision that the church must be demolished.
Despite Ormond MainStreet asking for a six month grace period to explore ways to restore the 1976 structure, and both Salty Church and Congregation B’nai Torah expressing interest in the building, the commission voted 3-2 at its meeting on Tuesday, May 4, to tear down the building and construct a new shell parking lot for 59 vehicles. Mayor Bill Partington and Commissioner Dwight Selby voted against, wishing instead to pursue avenues to save the building.
Selby said that way, they could see if, as a community, they could reimagine what the property could be used as.
“We’ve deprived local citizens with the opportunity to come forward with a potentially really great plan," he said.
The city purchased the property, which includes a riverside parcel, in 2018 for $729,000. The parking lot is estimated to cost an additional $125,579, according to city documents.
Seven members of the public spoke at the meeting. Of that, two were in favor of demolishing the church. One was Dorian Burt, a representative of developer Bill Jones, who said the property’s restoration could cost upwards of $1.5 million.
“We need the parking,” Burt said. “The 59 spaces are the most comprehensive use of that property at this time.”
Commissioners Troy Kent and Susan Persis both said the church was in “terrible” condition.
“I just think being good stewards of the public trust, we can’t afford to keep this decaying facility on one of our most beautiful streets in Ormond Beach,” Persis said.
Selby said he was disappointed with the commission’s decision.
"If we waited six months, gave them the opportunity to do that, what would be different?” Selby said. “...When we tear it down, there is no alternative.”
Though Gov. Ron DeSantis issued two executive orders suspending all local COVID-19 emergency orders, Volusia County Schools’ mask policy will remain in place.
The district stated that it reviewed the orders and that the Florida Department of Education “confirmed that neither order impacts any school district policies for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.” The School Board is planning to review an optional mask policy for the 2021-2022 school year at its next meeting.
Three defendants in separate Volusia Sheriff’s Office cases were indicted on first-degree murder charges by a grand jury last week.
This includes Damian Derousha, the county fleet maintenance employee who shot and killed fellow employee Donald Geno in February as a result of a love triangle.
Riverside Drive from Willis Drive to Ormond Parkway will close from 8 a.m. Monday, May 10, to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 20, to allow Danella Construction to connect the area to the city’s fiber optic network.
The city will work with residents to minimize the inconvenience, a city memo states.
