County finds obstacles with Whitney Plaza community center space

Manatee County will still try to create a community space on the north end of Longboat Key, but where to put that space may be in question.


The front entrance of Manatee County's leased space at Whitney Plaza.
The front entrance of Manatee County's leased space at Whitney Plaza.
Photo by Carter Weinhofer
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Manatee County is still interested in pursuing an education center on Longboat Key, but the previously recommended building may no longer be the spot county officials want. 

According to co-Chair of Longboat Key North Maureen Merrigan, the group’s latest conversations with the county suggested there were too many obstacles at the current location, which is the largest space at Whitney Plaza. 

The county is already leasing the space at Whitney Plaza after entering a lease agreement last year, at a monthly rate of $11,256.67. After experiencing prior construction delays, the building remains in need of expansion for the proposed learning center. 

Merrigan's recent conversations include one with the new Manatee County District 3 Commissioner Tal Siddique, whose territory includes the Manatee County side of Longboat Key. 

Merrigan said her conversations with Siddique were positive, and Siddique understands the community’s need for a meeting space and arts or recreational space on the north end. 

Longboat Key North, a coalition of homeowners and condominium associations on the north end of the island, has been engaged in conversations with the county for the past three years about the project. 

The group started a subcommittee, the North End Space Team (NEST) group, to work closely with the county’s project manager for the community center. 

Those conversations and brainstorming led to the direction of adult education classes at the center, with an art studio and meeting room space.

Manatee Technical College would oversee the classes at the center, which would provide fee-based adult enrichment classes as well as provide meeting space for community groups.

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According to Information Outreach Manager for Manatee County Bill Logan, the county is continuing to engage with the location in Whitney Plaza, but “significant hurricane damage” complicated issues. 

Logan also said in an emailed statement that the county’s property acquisition team is looking at other opportunities on Longboat Key for the proposed learning center. 

No matter where the learning center is, Merrigan said the Longboat Key North group has an interest and wants to continue the collaboration through the NEST group. 

“Longboat Key North represents all the communities on the north end,” Merrigan said. “We would absolutely be willing to help,” Merrigan said.


Past obstacles

Merrigan’s latest update to the Longboat Key North group reiterated the previous obstacles the county faced at the Whitney Plaza site with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations.

FEMA’s 50% rule prohibits building improvements if those improvements cost more than 50% of the building’s market value. Those improvements include the total of everything from exterior wall finishes, air conditioning equipment and appliances. 

In June 2024, initial permits for the learning center were submitted to the town’s Planning, Zoning and Building Department, and Project Manager Simona Brinkman learned the project may be subject to the 50% rule. 

A total renovation of the space at Whitney Plaza would be needed for the county's community center project.
Photo by Carter Weinhofer

Then, hurricanes Helene and Milton impacted the island and left many north-end properties flooded. This included some of Whitney Plaza and, according to Merrigan’s report, the county’s leased property. 

Merrigan’s report said the costs of storm mitigation would be added to the total construction costs, thus making it more difficult to stay under the 50% rule. 

It’s been one year since the county entered the lease agreement with Porter Investment Holdings, Inc.m, the group that owns Whitney Plaza. 

The architects were working with the NEST group and county project team to design the learning center built for the community’s needs, including multi-purpose space, computer/library space, art studio space and a meeting room. 

Early construction costs were estimated at around $1.2 million. 

That’s on top of the lease payments, which were $11,256.67, or about $135,080 for the first year. 

During the summer of 2023, the town held a public input session for the north-end learning center, but initial discussions about a Manatee County-operated community center on the north end date back to 2021. 

 

author

Carter Weinhofer

Carter Weinhofer is the Longboat Key news reporter for the Observer. Originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, he moved to St. Petersburg to attend Eckerd College until graduating in 2023. During his entire undergraduate career, he worked at the student newspaper, The Current, holding positions from science reporter to editor-in-chief.

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