Commission approves $1.5 million land purchase

One by one, town residents, business officials and representatives from non-profit entities took to the stand to discuss a town center concept and the possibility of the town purchasing a parcel of land for $1.5 million to jumpstart a town center concept.

“I’ve been involved with this community since the day I moved here 14 years ago and I’ve never seen any momentum like this town center concept like I’m seeing here today,” Brown said. “I don’t see how we could go wrong with this.”

The rest of the commission agreed, unanimously approving the purchase of a parcel of land behind the Longboat Key Publix and Sun Trust Bank for $1,508,000 at its regular meeting Monday.

In a Feb. 26 memo published with the commission’s regular meeting agenda, Town Manager Dave Bullock proposed the commission consider the contract for 2.8 acres of vacant property behind SunTrust Bank on Longboat Key.

The property, owned by Longboat Key resident Joe Wolfer, is the site of the former MODA on Longboat Key luxury condominium project that was nixed in August 2008.

Bullock proposed using money from the town’s land acquisition fund to purchase the property.

Bullock and town staff have spent months talking to citizens and property owners along Bay Isles Road to discuss a town center concept that’s been discussed for years and was also an integral part of an Urban Land Institute report.

Bullock noted the parcel is a key piece of land needed to build a future town center.

For more information, pick up a copy of this week’s Longboat Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].