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Commission approves ground lease with 8 Waves for children'focused museum, CRA to fund house relocation
Summary
The commission authorized a ground lease with 8 Waves for city-owned property at 971 East Plant Street and the Community Redevelopment Agency agreed to contribute $80,000 to relocate a 1926 house that will be donated to the nonprofit for use adjacent to the museum.
The Winter Garden City Commission authorized a ground lease with 8 Waves Corporation for city property at 971 East Plant Street and the Community Redevelopment Agency approved an $80,000 contribution to relocate and restore a historic 1926 house that the property owner will donate to the nonprofit.
Staff recommended a 30-year ground lease to support construction of an interactive children'focused museum and related programming. "This children's museum will be a first of its kind in the Central Florida region," staff said in presenting the item. Sarah Meyer, executive director of 8 Waves, described the planned facility as hands-on and educational throughout: "From the moment they enter, from the moment they leave. Every inch will be thought about. Even the stairs and elevator, no place is not okay for them to touch."
Staff and the nonprofit said the museum will be built in two phases and, when complete, is expected to serve an additional 5,000 students and families and draw more than 30,000 visitors annually. The city presentation said 8 Waves currently serves more than 1,500 under-resourced children through in-school and after-school programs.
For the adjacent house relocation, the property owner Winter Garden Salon Development LLC will donate the 1926 structure; the relocation work is estimated at $100,000. The CRA approved contributing $80,000 toward the move; the owner will provide $20,000, and Youngblood Building Movers Inc. will perform relocation services, staff said. The CRA vote to contribute $80,000 carried unanimously at the CRA meeting; the subsequent commission action authorizing the ground lease carried with a 4-0 vote and one commissioner recused due to a stated conflict of interest.
City staff said the ground lease and house donation aim to co-locate 8 Waves programs and the museum near the city'owned site, and staff recommended the city manager be authorized to execute the lease. The commission approved the authorization. Mike Vander Beal, owner of Winter Garden Salon Development, praised the public-private partnership, and community members at public comment also expressed support.
The actions approved on the dais do not commit the city to construction funding beyond the authorized lease and CRA relocation contribution; staff said the lease governs property use and maintenance and that more details on financing and project phasing will follow.
