The old Williston High School is to be demolished as part of a plan by BluRock Development to convert the vacant campus into a business site. Photo by Linda Cooper

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                Old Williston High School on Noble Avenue has remained vacant since the new school opened a couple years back, and its aging buildings are destined for demolition.

            An Orlando company, BluRock Development, plans to build new businesses at the site. The Williston City Council gave final approval for zoning and land use changes for the school property at its Jan. 21 meeting..

            BluRock representative Joe Schuemann promised to build a quality development at the site of the former school.

            “We’re going to do something nice for your community. We’re making progress already,” Schuemann said.

            Schuemann said Popeye’s chicken restaurant has agreed to locate at the site but he didn’t mention other potential businesses that might build there.

            The city’s codes prohibit the type of ice cream cone shaped building that Schuemann wanted to construct at the site when he first met with the council.

            The council adopted four preferred architectural styles a couple years ago that give commercial developers a general idea of what type of development the city would like to see in its commercial districts.      

           Williston City Council adopted four preferred architectural styles for commercial business districts a couple years ago. The styles are preferred rather than mandatory. The styles are Florida Southern Vernacular (Cracker or Folk Victorian); Craftsman or Bungalow; Spanish Mission or Spanish Revival; and Victorian style. The styles weren’t discussed with BluRock Development during the public zoning and land use hearings but BluRock has agreed to work with City Planning Director Jackie Gorman. The issue could be raised in those discussions. Photos Courtesy City of Williston:

               Those commercial styles were never discussed with Schuemann in public meetings. The council was focused on land use and zoning issues and on soliciting promises that Schuemann will build a quality development.

            Schuemann must figure out what can be constructed at the site that fits the Williston community and allows him to reclaim his investment, which is now more than $1.5 million including the purchase of the property and removal of asbestos.

             Schuemann’s initial game plan was to bring a Publix supermarket to the site and build a small shopping center near the grocery store, but when the supermarket chain backed out he was left in a difficult spot.

            The city has made it clear that Schuemann must demolish the entire school and remove the debris before he can develop the site. He must obtain city approval before he can begin the demolition.

            Discussion of the school site project didn’t take long at the council meeting. The project had been discussed and rehashed many times before.

             Prior to Schuemann ever buying the property there was discussion by some as to whether a time capsule had been buried in the walls of old school. The time capsule, if it ever existed, was never found. The time capsule never came up during discussions with the council. Zoning and land uses were the focus, not a time capsule.

            Schuemann has agreed to work with City Planning Director Jackie Gorman on the development plans.          

            The council gave unanimous approval to the zoning and land use changes requested by BluRock. The land is now zoned commercial intensive.

            Laurel Point

            At the same  council meeting, the board gave final approval to land use and zoning changes for a second project, Laurel Point, a planned residential development. The design of Laurel Point breaks free from traditional subdivisions.

            Laurel Point is a 47-home development behind the Winn Dixie supermarket that will have just one private driveway winding its way through the small stylish homes with landscaped backyards.

            Part of Laurel Oak is set aside for commercial development, which is likely to be service-oriented businesses that could be used by the community. No specific businesses have been mentioned by the developers.

            Developers Kennedy Boyer and Dr. Wade Bullock are working on a master site plan for the community that will have to be approved in future meetings with the council.

            Boyer said they have also hired an attorney to draft Homeowners Association bylaws and a set of rules that will ensure the association actually exists and functions effectively after the developers have sold the final lot.

            The artist’s renderings of what Laurel Point would look like when completed were appealing to the eye at council meeting. Landscaped backyards, small lawns, small homes and a closely knit community are envisioned by the developers.

            Bullock and Boyer were born and raised in Williston and have promised a development that will make the community proud. They have a long ways to go before the first shovel is planted in Williston soil. The same two men developed Camellia Plantation, which will be a next door neighbor of Laurel Point.

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City of Williston Regular Meeting January 21, 2020; Posted January 27, 2020