Florida A&M University Very Positive with Pharmacy School in Crestview

City of Crestview making major strides to welcome FAMU Pharmacy School to City.


FAMU answers questions about pharmacy school
Crestview City Council likely will discuss the issue at its meeting Monday, official says
By KYLE WRIGHT Florida Freedom Newspapers

CRESTVIEW — Florida A&M University would like full ownership of the Alatex building if it opens a pharmacy school here. And the university doesn’t anticipate parking problems in the downtown area. FAMU provided those responses, along with the answers to 17 other questions, in its reply to the city of Crestview’s list of questions regarding the proposed pharmacy school. The letter is signed by Tola Thompson, FAMU’s director of governmental relations. Michael Wing, the city’s administrative services director, said the responses likely will be a topic at the next City Council meeting Monday. Among the noteworthy answers are: FAMU would like to receive full ownership of the building where the school is located, presumably the Alatex building downtown. “This will be necessary for the university to qualify for state funds for owning and operating the building,” the letter reads. The school says an outright purchase or lease would “complicate” funding for building operations and maintenance. The school expects the building to retain its historic character. “The university’s design solution will involve the restoration of the historic aspects of the building while redesigning the building’s interior square footage into modern classrooms, teaching labs and offices,” the letter says. The university does not expect parking to be a problem downtown. “If parking becomes a problem, we would work with the City of Crestview to design a mutually agreeable solution.” he university hopes to begin design work “right away.” Construction would take 18 months. The school also says construction will not begin until funding for the project is guaranteed. The letter says local contractors will be considered for construction and Crestview residents will be considered for staff positions. Mayor David Cadle says FAMU’s responses will move things forward. “I’m happy to see the process is taking shape,” he said. “The answers from FAMU will give our council members an opportunity to proceed with this project. We’re looking forward to seeing the pharmacy school become a reality for downtown Crestview.”