Historic church to begin renovations

MILTON — The city is receiving and finalizing plans for renovations of the Mount Pilgrim African Baptist Church, a project awarded by the state in early 2016.

The renovations will involve removal of mold and mildew buildup, mainly in the basement, and improving and closing moisture-intrusion areas compromising the structural integrity of the historic building.

Mount Pilgrim — the first brick church in Santa Rosa County — was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1992. The church received a $60,000 Special Category grant from the Florida Division of Historical Resources for renovations, and the two-year grant cycle began July 1, 2016.

The city of Milton administers the grant and has $30,000 in the project. Mount Pilgrim has an additional $30,000 in the project for a total of $120,000.

Eddie Todd, a local architect, is working with Milton Planning Director Randy Jorgenson to plan the renovations, which Todd said will start with the basement and work upward.

At this time, Todd has not completed architectural plans for the renovations. City staffers are slated to meet with Todd and representatives from the state to provide updates of the scope of work and discuss grant disbursement.

Following the meeting, the city will select a general contractor and project manager for the construction. General project requirements, such as barriers and portable toilets, will also be purchased as they are essential to the commencement of construction.

The projected time for completion of the renovations is no later than June 30, the end of the grant period. City staff said they plan to keep the City Council informed of any changes and progress made in the coming months.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Historic church to begin renovations