Nap Ford school left out of deal for historic property, Ings says

The city’s plan to transform a historic school in Holden Heights drew the ire Thursday of Commissioner Sam Ings, who represents the west Orlando neighborhood on the City Council.

Mayor Buddy Dyer’s staff this week confirmed they plan to acquire the Grand Avenue School, an Orlando historic landmark that closed its doors in June after 90 years, and turn it into a recreation center.

But Ings, who publicly championed saving the school from demolition, argued it would make an ideal home for Nap Ford Community School, which was forced to relocate for the planned Creative Village.

He criticized the Orange County school district, which he said was treating the Nap Ford school, a charter that opened with city assistance in Parramore in 2001, as a competitor for its new K-12 school.

“They have no empathy for the Nap Ford Community School at all,” he said.

Ings said he’d been told the school district planned to include language in its agreement to transfer Grand Avenue School to the city that would prevent it from being used by another school in the future.

Lauren Roth, a school district spokeswoman, wouldn’t respond to that claim.

“We are still in the final stages of negotiations regarding the exchange of properties and as such have no comment at this time,” she said.

Jennifer Porter-Smith, Nap Ford Community School’s executive director, did not respond to a call seeking comment.

The school is on Monte Carlo Trail near Clear Lake, according to its website. Its campus used to sit on city-owned property near Livingston Street and Parramore Avenue, which is slated to become part of the UCF/Valencia College joint campus that will anchor the Creative Village.

Ings also said he was left out of the loop during the city’s negotiations to acquire the school.

“They say they’re supposed to be transparent, but they aren’t even transparent with me, the elected representative for the district,” he said.

Cassandra Lafser, a spokeswoman for Dyer, said city staff briefed Ings throughout the process. Holden Heights has long lacked recreational facilities that residents want, she said.

“This is what we feel is the best use for this facility,” she said.

The school district is expected to hand over the Grand Avenue School in exchange for land the city gave it in 2014 to build the K-12 school in Parramore, the Academic Center for Excellence.

City officials said the school will house a pottery studio, the Parramore Kidz Zone mentoring program and other services offered at the Downtown Recreation Complex, which also is closing to make way for the Creative Village.

The city plans to build a 900seat gym on the school property. The updates and gym are expected to cost about $16 million.