Commission declares South Olive Avenue parcel surplus to negotiate Norton Museum ground lease for cultural park

The City Commission on Aug. 18 declared a portion of city-owned property at 1450 South Olive Avenue surplus and authorized staff to negotiate terms for a long-term ground lease with the Norton Museum of Art to create a public cultural park.

Armando Fon, assistant city administrator, presented concept renderings and historical context for the park site, which sits east of the Norton Museum between Olive Avenue and Flagler Drive and fronts the Intracoastal Waterway. Fon said the proposed park would display a signature art piece facing the water, include additional sculptures and significant landscaping, host public events and be open to the public, while occasional private events by the Norton would follow the city’s special-event permitting process.

Fon said the city will negotiate a lease footprint that could be adjusted north or south of the median strip shown in the presentation and that the final agreement will specify utility access, maintenance responsibilities and site layout. He told commissioners the grantors or donors are expected to fund art and construction costs; the city would not pay for the art or design but likely would continue to maintain the roadway, roundabout and adjacent elements as it does now.

The proposed concept includes a signature sculptural element aligned with the original Norton entrance and a landscaped promenade linking Flagler Drive and the waterfront; the presentation cited a conceptual design by Foster + Partners and referenced Related’s adjacent South Flagler House development and its tree requirements.

City attorney’s office advised the commission the resolution had been amended to reflect the larger footprint depicted by staff and that staff would return with a negotiated lease for commission consideration. The resolution to surplus the property passed unanimously.