Parc Center for Disabilities demolishes St. Pete administration building for new development
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jan 5, 2024

The Parc Center for Disabilities in St. Petersburg has demolished its administration building to make way for a new $10 million Children’s Service Center.

The demolition took place Dec. 18 at 3190 Tyrone Blvd. The demolition is the first step toward the completion of a new 14,000-square-foot Children’s Service Center, which is set to open on the site in fall 2025. State Rep. Linda Chaney presented a $1.5 million check at the event to support the new center.

“This day marks the next phase of our master campus plan for Parc Center for Disabilities,” Michelle Detweiler, president and CEO of Parc Center for Disabilities, said in a statement. “We have invested several million dollars during the past five years into our multigenerational campus and this new center is the first visible step in demonstrating our continued evolution as we launch into our next 70 years.”

More than 70 people attended the demolition ceremony, including City Councilmember Copley Gerdes, Parc board and team members, members of the Juvenile Welfare Board and The Bank of Tampa. The project team includes Harvard Jolly Architecture; Cross Construction of Lutz was the demolition contractor and Ranon Inc. of Tampa is the general contractor for the new building.

The center will be for children from birth to 3 years old, with a focus on both special needs education and trauma-informed care. The center “will facilitate early intervention for an otherwise underserved population by providing the appropriate services critical for these children,” according to a release.

Parc Center Disabilities was founded in 1953. Its children’s services division is currently known for three programs: Discovery Learning Center preschool, Family Focus Early Intervention Services and Caregiver Relief Services. Last year, Parc’s Children’s Services “impacted the lives of 559 children and caregivers,” according to the organization.

“Parc’s Children’s Services Center is a leading hub for our entire region and advocates strongly to advance and serve the developmental disability community throughout Florida and the southeastern United States,” Bridie Gauthier, assistant vice president of children’s services, said in a release.