The Hernando County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Florida A&M University’s proposal to sub-lease Chinsegut Hill on Thursday in a 5-0 decision that surprised many observers. FAMU’s proposal centers on using the historic Brooksville property for academic and research purposes, though the university provided no guarantee of widely available public access to the grounds.
The competing proposal from Hernando Historic Preservation Society (HHPS) focused on maintaining public access to Chinsegut with open grounds, conference center operations, and cottage rentals supported through grant funding. Commissioner Brian Hawkins added an amendment to Thursday’s decision requiring FAMU to coordinate with the Tampa Bay History Center for historic interpretation and Manor house programming, while collaborating with HHPS for local heritage programming and community engagement.
Board Chair Jerry Campbell emphasized that public access remains a priority, stating “public access is important. That has to be part of it.” One of FAMU’s deans in attendance gave a thumbs-up to Hawkins’ amendment, though the contractual details remain unclear until the final agreement is signed. The amendment also requires the county and FAMU to retain ultimate operational authority while ensuring historic preservation standards and clear performance reporting requirements.
Multiple board members, including John Allocco, noted that HHPS should focus on preserving the property’s history rather than basic maintenance tasks like “mowing lawns.” Despite awarding the sub-lease to FAMU, commissioners encouraged continued collaboration among all three organizations. Campbell told HHPS representatives, “If this is something that is important to you, it is important to you whether you win the proposal or not, I would think. So, I just want to encourage you to stay involved.”
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
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