Opinion

A missed opportunity?

With a looming $14 million library-community center a football field away from the $2.1 million Tidewell building, it makes you wonder.


  • Longboat Key
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In the words of that famous philosopher, Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast.”

 Yes, it’s a challenge to keep up and sort things. In the past week or so on Longboat Key, for instance:

Longboat Key town commissioners and Manatee County commissioners discussed in a joint session again the idea of establishing a community center on the north end of the island. As our Carter Weinhofer reported:

“… (T)he county and town stumbled upon a possible alternative space. According to Town Manager Howard Tipton, a property owned by the Chiles Group, located at 6920 Gulf of Mexico Drive, is for sale. The space is about an acre-and-a-half and includes a 1,300-square-foot multiuse room, two bathrooms and 88 graded parking spaces. Tipton said a lease is not an option at the space, and estimates for the property range from $3 million to $5 million.”

The proposed $11 million county library and $3.5 million community center for Longboat Key.
Courtesy image

The county commissioners were cool to the idea of spending that much money.

Meanwhile, Tipton sent an effusive email last week to Longboat Key residents:

“Thanks to the incredible generosity of Longboat Key residents and those who believe in the magic of our island community, we’ve reached 90% of our $3.5 million fundraising goal for the Community Hall at the Town Center Green! 

The Chiles Group’s building next to the 88-space parking lot at 6920 Gulf of Mexico Drive — a potential north Longboat community center? Manatee County  commissioners say $3 million is more than they want to spend.
Photo by Dana Kampa

That’s $3.2 million pledged so far — amazing!

“This exciting new Community Hall will be the perfect complement to the $11 million Sarasota County Library already planned for Longboat Key. With indoor space for up to 200 people and a beautiful outdoor terrace connecting the Library and the Green, the Hall will be the heart of community life — hosting lifelong learning programs, cultural events and even serving as a vital resiliency hub during storms.”

Meanwhile, another headline: “Former Tidewell building under new ownership after $2.1 million sale.”

For those familiar with Longboat’s terrain, the Tidewell building is the office building on Bay Isles Road across the street from Town Hall and the Longboat Key Library and sits next to the Town Center Green property, say, 75 yards away from the Karon Family band shell.

The Paradise Center/Tidewell Building sold for $2.1 million. It sits across the street from Town Hall and the Longboat Library and sits adjacent to the Town Center Green.
Photo by Dana Kampa

Put all three of these news items in one basket. And if, say, you were new to Longboat Key and at least familiar with the island enough to know where all three of these properties are and what they look like, and if you were the slightest bit cynical, as well as wary of most government spending, you might be confused. “Wait a minute. What’s going on here?”

A community center for the northern end of the island for the 2,740 permanent residents, perhaps 5,400 from January through April? And: Purchase the property with taxpayer money for a center whose use would be, what, how often?

And: An $11 million public library, along with a $3.5 million community center on the south end of the Key? A $15 million facility to serve who and how often? The Longboat/Sarasota population is 4,790 permanent, and say 10,000 to 11,000 during season. Add in the Manatee population, and you get to 7,530 permanent residents, mushrooming to, say, 20,000 during season.

It would be making a big assumption that the island’s entire population would use the two community centers at one time or another. Which they won’t.

But here’s the kicker: The cynical newcomer is likely to look at the former Tidewell office building and say: “If the town wants a community center so badly, would it have made more economic sense to save a lot of taxpayer money and just buy the Tidewell building and retrofit it?” … Just sayin’.

 

author

Matt Walsh

Matt Walsh is the CEO and founder of Observer Media Group.

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