Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the House Relocation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Donation of 1925 house to Pass-a-Grille Park stalls amid timeline and cost concerns
Summary
A proposed donation of a 1925 wood-framed house for relocation to Pass-a-Grille Park drew broad community interest but no final action Dec. 16 as staff and commissioners cited uncertain costs, a possible donor deadline and complex permitting and ADA requirements.
The commission on Dec. 16 heard a staff presentation on a donated 1925 wood-framed house that a homeowner offered for relocation to Pass-a-Grille Park but did not accept the donation or commit city funds.
Staff said relocation and site-preparation estimates varied: a community-sourced relocation-and-foundation quote was about $162,000, staff’s rebuild estimate for a light structure was roughly $193,000, and more comprehensive project totals — including code upgrades, ADA compliance and site work — could push estimated costs much higher. A Sarasota example presented to the commission noted roughly two years of planning and one year of construction and a prior project cost near $425,000; staff said rising construction costs made a local estimate for full conversion higher and they ultimately estimated a $650,000 potential total in current dollars for a commercial-use relocation and conversion.
City staff highlighted necessary steps before any relocation: local historic-preservation review for designation and certificate of appropriateness, structural inspection and engineer assessment, surveying and utility relocations, a relocation building permit and site-elevation certificates, and consideration of ADA triggers if improvements reach certain thresholds.
Several community members and contractors urged the city to pursue the donation or at least explore private options. Contractor Charles Jordan said relocations are frequently feasible and referenced Florida Building Code chapters that provide paths for historic and relocated buildings, arguing that insurance and transit coverage are standard parts of moving work. Owner-donor Michael Peza said the donation was meant to keep the house in Pass-a-Grille but acknowledged timelines and costs make the project uncertain.
Commissioners expressed gratitude to the donors and to volunteers and preservation advocates but voiced concern about the reported donor deadline (staff said the owner had indicated a Jan.1 target to start moving the house) and the risk that the expense and time required would impact other priorities. Commissioner Maldonado asked staff to collect lessons learned and suggested staff continue exploring private options and alternate donated houses that might be smaller or easier to move.
What happens next: staff will coordinate follow-up work and report back to the commission; the city did not vote to accept the gift or to commit funding at this meeting. The record included multiple community offers to assist, and commissioners signaled interest in continuing to evaluate options but were not comfortable committing the city to the relocation under the currently presented timeline and cost assumptions.
