Purchase could yield town center

One by one, town residents, business officials and representatives from nonprofit entities took the stand at Monday’s regular Longboat Key Town Commission meeting to discuss the possibility of the town purchasing a parcel of land for $1.5 million to jumpstart a town center concept.

All of them spoke in favor of purchasing the property.

“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,” Mayor Jim 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.

In a Feb. 26 memo published with the commission’s regular meeting agenda, Town Manager Dave Bullock proposed the commission consider the contract for the purchase of 2.8 acres.

The property, owned by Longboat Key resident Joe Wolfer, is the site of the former MODA on Longboat Key luxury condominium project that the developer nixed in August 2008, due to the economic downturn.
Wolfer, who has the property listed for sale, was willing to sell the parcel to the town if the commission agreed to buy the property.Bullock proposed using money from the town’s land acquisition fund to purchase the property.

Wolfer, who already signed the contract that was submitted for the commission’s review, had another buyer for the property and was only willing to sell the land to the town if the commission agreed to the contract Monday night.

Bullock has spent months talking to citizens and property owners along Bay Isles Road to discuss a town center concept that was an integral part of a recent Urban Land Institute report.

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

“We are about to start a discussion about creating a town center overlay district for this property,” Bullock said. “As soon as we begin this process, we will bring a level of attention that will increase the price of this property and other parcels nearby. I believe if the commission is ready to commit to serious work, securing the site now is a logical step.”

At least 10 people took to the podium in support of the land purchase.

Realtor Cheryl Loeffler, a 28-year resident of Longboat Key, told commissioners she was representing Ringling College of Art and Design President Dr. Larry Thompson in his absence.

“As soon as the discussion of an arts and cultural center for a town center came up, we (Ringling College) started receiving calls,” Loeffler said. “It’s an excellent time to explore a private-public partnership with the town, and we love the idea of being part of something new in the center of gravity on Longboat Key.”

Former mayor George Spoll, acting on behalf as the chairman of the Longboat Key Revitalization Task Force, said “it’s wise to control this key parcel of land.”

Commissioner Phill Younger, who said he came into the meeting with a lot of questions, said he couldn’t deny the overwhelming support for the land purchase.

“Not one person has opposed this,” Younger said.

The town will close on the contract in May. The commission also approved using $200,000 for planning expenses involved with creating a town center overlay district.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected]