Landmark Levy Arc Building Wilting from Old Age

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

One of the most beloved programs in Levy County needs a new home.

The 92-year-old Otter Creek school building housing Levy Arc, formerly known as LARC, is slowly dying of old age.

Floors have soft spots, electrical wiring for the building should be declared a vintage antique, and many rooms are closed off because they aren’t safe to use.

Levy Arc has long been the home of a woodworking shop and classroom space for special needs adults in Levy County.

ARC Executive Director Lisa Daniels said she currently uses about half of the building because the remainder isn’t fit for training or educating clients.

Daniels appeared before Levy County Commissioners this week along with Levy Arc Board President Randy Stefanelli, Board Treasurer Charlie Smith, and Board Secretary Carol Seamon to explain the program’s plight and ask for assistance.

She appeared before the board in June of 2021 to ask for repair funding to fix the old school building, and the money was approved by commissioners.

“But I wasn’t aware of how bad things were,” she said.

The county commission’s director of maintenance and construction, Jimmy Jones, was asked to evaluate the building. Levy Arc had been closed by the state during the COVID-19 outbreak and was left empty during the closure. Jones hadn’t been back for a year and a half.

“It’s in dire need of repair if not some type of demolition,” Jones said, noting the building was constructed in 1930. “I think it’s far exceeded what its capabilities are. It has old wiring. It’s not something you would want your family to be involved in. It’s looking pretty rough.”

Jones said he evaluated the old school years ago with former Development Department Director Rob Corbitt and they returned to their truck scratching their heads. He said they made repairs as best they could to keep the building operating.

“We’ve tried to Band-Aid it and keep it alive as far as they could do that. That’s why we’re here before the board today,” Jones said.

Daniels said if the building is demolished and replaced or if the property is sold and another property is located for the program, Levy Arc will need a temporary home until a permanent facility is found or built.

Daniels said a woman has purchased all the properties around the old school and is interested in buying the school itself. The property without the school is worth about $100,000, she said. Supposedly, the school building is worth more than the land.

The property is currently deeded to ARC but there is a clause in the deed that says if it ever stops being used for the current purpose for 12 months, ownership of the property would revert back to the school board.

Daniels said she has talked to School Superintendent Chris Cowart about getting the deed rewritten to eliminate the reverter clause. She said Cowart wants to take the issue to the school board.

Selling the property would give Levy Arc seed money to purchase another piece of land.

Smith said he doesn’t think the building is repairable.

“Getting rid of the property in Otter Creek might be a way to get it rolling,” Smith told commissioners.

Commissioner John Meeks, the board member who asked Daniels to bring the issue to the county commission for discussion, said he wanted the board to know the seriousness of the problem with the old school building.

“I just wanted everyone to be aware of the necessity and how dire the situation is,” Meeks said. “It’s technically not our program, but it is important to our community and someone could get hurt in that building.”

Meeks said he has talked to Cowart a couple of times about possibly using portable classrooms at the Hilltop property east of Bronson for temporarily housing Levy Arc, but some of the classrooms used by the school board for early learning classes might create a conflict.

“I have not got a solid answer on that. I’m not throwing Chris under the bus, but he has to ask people above him. That would be a good temporary fix. I don’t think it’s a permanent fix,” Meeks said.

Despite problems with finding a new home for Levy Arc, life goes on for the agency.

Daniels and Program Director Raylin Lanham were working Sunday, March 27 on the Spring Fling (Prom) for the Arc. The celebration is set for Friday, April 1 at Langan Acres, 8390 N.E. 150^th Ave. Williston.

Many of the old school rooms are closed off for safety issues, but Daniels and Lanham were making good progress on gift boxes for the Spring Fling participants and an inscribed keepsake glass for each client.

Daniels said there is useable space in the building, but she has been told the entire building would have to be rewired for electrical use. She said the air conditioning units would have to be replaced. The workshop area and lunchroom area are useable. Daniels and Lanham found space to work on the Spring Fling.

Daniels said she has rebuilt the program to 23 clients with five potential clients on a waiting list. Meeks said the program would like to extend services to clients in Gilchrist and Dixie Counties.

He said he thinks a better place to house Levy Arc would be Bronson or Chiefland, closer to the areas where the clients live, but the search for a new home and the answers for what should be done with the old school, haven’t been found at this point.

Meeks said a workshop will probably be necessary to hash out the issues. No date has been set.