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Big building for big post

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2007

SPRING HILL - After some 40 years in its current location on Spring Hill Drive, Post 10209 is moving into its new home.

They expect to open the new headquarters, located at 14736 Edward Noll Drive, on Dec. 1.

"It's the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one," said Jim O'Brien, the post's adjutant and construction liaison for the project, as he and Sanchez gave a tour of the new place Friday.

At 14,000 square feet, the new home of VFW Post 10209 is the biggest in Florida, according to post commander Jesse Sanchez.

The project got off to a rocky start when the post was forced to switch contractors because the original firm had problems securing a bond. That delayed the start of construction by more than a month.

Amore Construction took over and broke ground in June, about the same time Sanchez assumed the role of commander.

Things rolled along from there.

"This was all grown over," Sanchez said as he stood in the front drive of the new building, "and 14 weeks later, here we are."

The planning, however, began long before that.

Regency Centers, one of the country's largest retail developers, sought to build a shopping plaza on more than 50 acres along Spring Hill Drive and offered the Post 10209 a deal it couldn't refuse: trade its current building and three acres of land for three acres off Anderson Snow Road and a built-to-suit headquarters.

The new building is situated in a new light commercial industrial park about a half mile north of Anderson Snow Park.

So far, it's the only building on the road, which is named after Ed Noll, a much-beloved former commander who spearheaded the planning phase of the new post before he died Dec. 26 at the age of 81.

Friends, family, dignitaries and post officials gathered in March for a ceremony to dedicate the road in Noll's honor.

The value of the building and land is $1.4 million, Sanchez said.

Post officials worked with an architect to design a space that would provide a roomy gathering place for the post's 1,300 members, but also serve as a fully functioning hall that can be rented for weddings and other private parties.

The building is separated into two main spaces by the large, industrial kitchen. The post brought some of its restaurant-quality equipment, including massive Vulcan stove and oven units, from its former building.

On the east side of the building is the cantina and office space. The post paid about $70,000 out of its own pocket for extra features for the building, and roughly half of that went toward two large walk-in coolers. Bartenders will have easy access to one that sits just behind the bar.

The western two-thirds of the building is dedicated to the hall, which features a 30-foot wide stage, dressing rooms and its own bar.

No smoking will be allowed in the hall portion of the building, Sanchez said. He is leaving it up to the membership to decide whether smokers will be able to light up in the cantina.

Because fewer and fewer members smoke, and because there will likely be a strong desire to keep the new place clean, "I suspect they'll vote no," Sanchez said.

The interior walls are painted in a light tan, a perfect background for the post's memorabilia, said O'Brien, who picked the color.

"I tried to keep it light and neutral," he said. "Our other place is like a dungeon."

Outside, visitors can pull into the circular drive and under a soaring portico.

"I know as soon as the young ladies planning their wedding see this, they'll schedule their special event here," Sanchez said.

A large American flag will wave on a 45-tall pole flanked by six smaller poles - one for the VFW flag and each branch of the armed services.

The black and white POW/MIA flag will hang on a post closer to the road.

Bricks will soon be laid out front in the shape of the VFW Maltese cross. Donors can purchase a brick and have it engraved for $50; the post has already raised about $12,000, Sanchez said.

There will be little to miss about the former building, which had been built about 40 years ago and was showing its age, O'Brien and Sanchez said.

"It was just plain old," Sanchez said.

There also was concern for post members and other visitors who had to negotiate an increasingly hazardous segment of Spring Hill Drive.

And when bands would crank up in the outdoor pavilion, neighbors often would complain, he said. The post expects to build a pavilion at the new place, he said.

Roger Morgan, construction superintendent for Amore, attributed the pace of the construction to "a lot of planning, a lot of coordination and good subcontractors."

A grand opening is slated for Jan. 12. The event will kick off with a 20-piece band and feature at least four other musical acts, Sanchez said.

A time capsule will be buried, to be opened 50 years hence. It will include a U.S. flag that flew over the White House and then over the new post.

The building might help Post 10209 set another record, Sanchez said.

The post currently has about 1,300 members. That's a couple of hundred people shy of the largest in Florida, according to Sanchez. He hopes the new building could help spark a new interest in the post and put 10209 over the top.

Sanchez, as he stood out front of the new building and motioned toward the Suncoast Parkway visible about a half mile away, said he can already see the sign:

"Welcome to Spring Hill, home of the largest VFW post in Florida."

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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