Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Acquisition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CRA tables possible purchase of 161 East Sixth Street; asks economic development director to evaluate
Summary
The Apopka CRA board voted unanimously to table consideration of a potential purchase of 161 East Sixth Street, a 0.42-acre parcel offered at $299,000, and directed the newly hired economic development director to assess the site’s best future use.
The Apopka CRA board on May 21 voted to table action on a potential property acquisition at 161 East Sixth Street and asked the economic development director to evaluate the site and recommend next steps. The motion to table passed unanimously.
Bobby Howell, interim CRA executive director, told the board he had been contacted by a listing agent about the property, which is being offered at $299,000 and measures roughly 0.42 acres. Howell described the site as wooded and located across from the Cobb Center and near the planned public safety building.
Howell told the board the property’s future land-use designation is commercial with a current floor-area ratio of 0.25, which would permit roughly an 8,000-square-foot building on the site under present rules. He also said tree removal would require payment into the city’s tree-mitigation bank at $15 per inch of tree caliper, and the seller’s realtor (Del Armstrong) had contacted staff but did not attend the meeting.
Member Drago and other board members said they did not consider the property blighted and favored allowing the new economic development director time to evaluate feasibility and reuse options, including potential museum expansion and parking. Member Nesta cautioned that if the CRA were to buy the lot, the board should have a funding and timeline plan for any future improvements rather than simply land-banking the site.
Member Drago moved to table the item until the economic development director could review and present recommendations; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Next steps: staff will have the economic development director evaluate the parcel and return with a recommendation. If the CRA pursues purchase in the future, Howell noted the city would follow procurement protocols, including appraisal and, if sold later, an RFP process for disposition.
Public comment during the meeting included residents urging preservation of trees and suggesting alternatives to clearing the lot if used by the city.
