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Florence 1 OKs purchase of former grocery to build $15.5 million aquatic center
Summary
The Florence 1 Board approved buying a former grocery at 2205 West Palmetto St. and moving forward to convert it into an 8-lane competition aquatic center; the district cited a $15,500,000 construction cost and a $5,200,000 purchase price with foundation and county funding commitments.
The Florence 1 Board of Trustees voted to purchase a former grocery at 2205 West Palmetto Street and convert the building into a district aquatic center, Superintendent Dr. Richard O'Malley said.
Dr. O'Malley told the board the project is a proposed 8-lane, 50-meter competition pool with two bulkheads (convertible to 25-meter short courses), a three-lane warm-up pool, retractable bleachers for roughly 650 spectators, locker rooms and support spaces. He said the project is a "$15,500,000 project to construct the pool" and that the purchase price for the existing building is "$5,200,000." He said the district has received funding commitments from the Bruce Lee Foundation and Florence County to support construction.
Board members who spoke in favor described the facility as a community asset that would expand swim instruction districtwide. One board member noted the district intends "to teach every third and fourth grader how to swim within the school day," framing learn-to-swim instruction as a student-safety and equity measure. Dr. O'Malley said, if the schedule holds, the district expects the facility to be constructed and ready by August 2027.
The board took a motion and approved the purchase by voice vote. The approval authorizes administration to close on the property and proceed with the planned conversion. The board also voted later to approve the architect contract for the project and related procurement steps.
The district emphasized cost savings in reusing the building: Dr. O'Malley said the purchase lowers projected costs compared with a ground-up build (he estimated a new build would be approximately $23,000,000). He said existing site elements and the building envelope reduce schedule and cost risks.
Next steps: the board approved the architect contract and authorized administration to proceed with closing and preconstruction planning. The district will return with additional design and financing details as required by procurement rules and the board’s policies.
