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Council to consider lease option for AC Freeman House after public urges sale or wider review
Summary
Public commenters urged the council to sell or market the AC Freeman House rather than spend city funds on renovation; council directed staff to bring a lease agreement and to schedule a joint City Council–CBDIA meeting in September to consider broader options.
Public commenters pressed the Punta Gorda City Council to reconsider plans for the AC Freeman House, arguing the property is marketable and that renovation by the city could create long‑term maintenance liabilities. Council staff said the city attorney is drafting a lease agreement with the CBDIA (Central Business District Improvement Association) for council consideration and that a joint meeting with the CBDIA is scheduled for September.
Multiple speakers in the public comment period urged alternatives to city‑led renovation. Gary Skillicorn criticized the council’s process, saying citizens had proposed options that were not considered and asked whether a vote had already taken place. "I never heard a vote. Was there a vote taken on that?" Skillicorn asked.
Resident speakers Jeff Lustig and others suggested transferring the property to a nonprofit or marketing it for private sale rather than renovating at city expense. Lustig said the building is unlikely to be useful as office space for the city and recommended giving it to a nonprofit or mothballing it, noting long‑term maintenance obligations. Public commenters raised practical concerns including ADA compliance, sprinkler and kitchen upgrades and ongoing maintenance costs; one commenter urged using proceeds from a possible sale to repair other historic properties damaged by storms.
City staff reported the City Attorney is drafting a lease agreement to be considered by both the City Council and the CBDIA that would allow for an expedited, lower‑cost repair process should both organizations choose to proceed. Council and staff agreed to place a broader AC Freeman House agenda item on a future meeting and to schedule a joint council/CBDIA session in September to review uses, potential sale, donation or lease and financing options. No final decision to renovate, sell, or transfer the property was made at the June 18 meeting.
The council asked staff to include alternate options in the agenda packet and to invite the CBDIA and other stakeholders to participate in the September discussion. Public comment and council direction will be part of the forthcoming agenda item.
