Malcolm Yonge Demolition - Studio 850 News

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https://youtu.be/DfQFE4CTGP0

Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Pensacola FL January 16, 2024 An item noticed to the pubic on the CRA's agenda was "REQUEST FOR FUNDING FULL ASSESSMENT OF MALCOLM YONGE GYM." At the last moment just as the "call to vote" was announced, the item was amended to "FUND THE DEMOLITION OF THE MALCOLM YONGE GYM" by awarding the contract to Jobe's Dirt Works. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFOjJanfB0A

Pensacola Florida City Council. Public Speakers, debate, and vote. Malcolm Yonge gym demolition. Feb 8, 2024. Vote was 6-1 in favor of awarding the contact to demolish to Jobe's Dirt Works, with Councilman Charles Bare the lone dissent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8J7MwnlB7U

Demolition Footage: Halfway through a citizens petition drive to save the historic Malcolm Yonge gym in downtown Pensacola, the facility was demolished. The City declared the building to be so severely damaged that repair would be uneconomical and thus, chose to demolish. The city wants to use the property for "attainable housing. March 6, 2024.

PUBLIC FORUM: https://youtu.be/yZE5yJ3Fl2g

COUNCILMAN CHARLES BARE: https://youtu.be/0d7mO4ytyyo

Mayor DC Reeves gives attorney Adam Cobb's opinion that the city referendum process does not pause legislation. Citizens speak during public forum in opposition to the demolition of the historic gym that occurred two days before, on Tuesday, March 6, 2026. 

https://ricksblog.biz/malcolm-yonge-gym-closed/

The city is in the process of drafting a scope of work for a consultant to conduct a structural assessment of the building. Once completed, the city will evaluate the results of the assessment and determine the next steps forward. Malcolm Yonge Gym is a City of Pensacola-owned facility located at 925 E. Jackson St.

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/rick9662/episodes/2024-02-20T11_21_53-08_00

Mayor DC Reeves "no more kicking the can" 

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/rick9662/episodes/2024-02-16T07_23_31-08_00

Jonathon Green and Teresa Hill explain the committee to petition the City Council challenging the decision to demolish the gym.

https://ricksblog.biz/daily-outtake-yonge-demolition-challenged/

Citizens wanting to keep the Malcolm Yonge Gym aren’t going away without a fight. Jonathan Green has filed a motion asking for an emergency temporary restraining order against the City of Pensacola to allow the Committee to Save Malcolm Yonge Community Center 60 days to collect petition signatures for a citywide referendum.

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/rick9662/episodes/2024-02-21T11_46_26-08_00

CRA Chair and Council Member Jennifer Brahier criticizes past council and mayor for passing on Malcolm Yonge repairs in 2020.

https://ricksblog.biz/demolition-of-malcolm-yonge-has-begun/

Two readers have notified us that the demolition of the Malcolm Yonge Gym has begun. Teresa Hill emailed us the above photo.

https://ricksblog.biz/daily-outtakes-malcolm-yonge-gone-whats-next/

The the Malcolm Yonge Gym demolition had started…and was mostly completed yesterday.

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/rick9662/episodes/2024-03-07T07_25_11-08_00

Radio interview with Jonathon Green and Teresa Hill the day after the demolition. 

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/rick9662/episodes/2024-03-07T07_49_37-08_00

Mayor DC Reeves responds to demolition criticism. Says the charter does pause legislation. Implied/Expressed rights legal argument. Says he does not want to set a precedent by allowing charter to pause legislation.

https://weartv.com/news/local/community-resistance-puts-malcolm-yonge-gyms-demolition-on-hold-in-pensacola

Community resistance puts Malcolm Yonge Gym's demolition on hold in Pensacola. Now, Mayor Reeves says the city will get a full structural assessment done. "So the reality is if the city is going to even just at a minimum not completely renovate but just bring it up to code and get it structurally sound that's really want the assessment is," Mayor Reeves said.

https://weartv.com/news/local/debates-intensify-over-fate-of-pensacolas-malcolm-yonge-center

Mayor DC Reeves states the cost to determine if the Malcolm Yonge Center can be saved is estimated to be more than double than the price to tear it down.

https://weartv.com/news/local/pensacola-city-council-votes-to-tear-down-malcolm-yonge-gym

City Council votes to teardown Malcolm Yonge Gym.

https://weartv.com/news/local/pensacolas-malcolm-yonge-center-may-soon-be-demolished-for-more-housing

"It would be we believe north of a million dollars to just get it back to where it can be inhabited by people," he said. "Not improvements, not ADA compliance, not all the things to update the building -- but just to make it safe enough for people to go in, we're talking about north of a million dollars."

https://weartv.com/news/local/pensacola-community-holds-candlelight-vigil-in-protest-of-malcolm-yonge-gym-demolition

Pensacola community holds candlelight vigil in protest of Malcolm Yonge Gym demolition.