Highwaymen Museum renovation nears completion; FPRA tallies $911,000 project cost and pending change orders

City staff and the project contractor told the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency on March 11 that work to convert the Jackie L. Kainan Sr. Building into the Highwaymen Museum is nearing structural completion but that change orders and site items could raise the project’s cost.

Staff said the city received about $483,000 in state grant funding for the museum conversion; the project total reported to the board exceeded $911,000, and FPRA had contributed more than $400,000 toward the project. To date the board has approved more than $166,000 in change orders and staff identified roughly $32,000 in additional change orders pending board consideration.

Project staff and the contractor outlined three outstanding items: whether to replace first‑generation impact windows with newer impact glazing, finalizing a revised parking lot plan to correct a drainage issue, and a dumpster enclosure and four benches for the proposed paver garden. The board received a copy of contractor correspondence and a building‑department response on the impact windows.

The FPRA and the Florida Highwaymen Foundation executed a lease in March 2023 under which the foundation will operate the museum when construction and site work are finished. The lease term reported to the board is 50 years with renewal options up to an additional 49 years and a rental rate of $1 per year. Under the lease staff said the foundation will insure contents and handle interior maintenance; FPRA will retain responsibility for exterior maintenance, major systems (roof, HVAC, elevator), utilities and the parking lot.

Commissioner Taylor urged staff to pursue reimbursement from the Tourist Development Council (TDC), noting that TDC funds are intended for tourist‑focused capital projects north of Midway Road and that an estimated $2 million was available in the TDC account; staff said they had contacted the county TDC representative and were awaiting guidance on the application format. Commissioners also discussed an adjacent commercial building that has appeared for sale on social media; some commissioners asked staff to explore acquisition options to control neighboring parcels and protect the museum investment.

Why it matters: The Highwaymen Museum is a cultural and tourism asset for Fort Pierce that the board has prioritized as part of Avenue D revitalization. Commissioners stressed the need to reconcile change orders with available FPRA funds, to pursue possible county TDC reimbursement, and to consider a special meeting if quick action on change orders is required.

Next steps: Staff said they will continue work on the outstanding items, track change‑order costs, and attempt to secure TDC support or guidance on whether change‑order expenditures can be reimbursed; staff also said they will provide a full FPRA funding position and consider whether a special meeting is needed to approve pending change orders.