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Palaca commission declines to pursue purchase of adjacent Liberty Church property
Summary
After discussing surplus city properties, renovation costs and fiscal uncertainty, the commission voted to deny a staff recommendation to pursue due diligence on 225 North Second Street (former Liberty Church) for $175,000.
The Commission voted on March 26 to deny Resolution 2026-R39, which would have authorized purchase-related due diligence for 225 North Second Street (listed as the Liberty Church) at a proposed price of $175,000.
Staff had presented the property as a potential location for community outreach, administrative space or housing-related uses adjacent to the city hall annex, but several commissioners said the city should not pursue another acquisition while several existing surplus properties and unresolved renovation needs remain. Commissioner Davis said she did not want the city to engage in due diligence or move toward purchasing the building at this time, citing the city’s existing inventory and potential renovation and maintenance costs.
Several commissioners and residents urged a workshop to establish a citywide real-estate and facilities plan before adding new properties to the portfolio. A resident and former planning attendee, Audrey Wise, urged fiscal caution given uncertain state-level proposals affecting municipal revenue, including talk of property-tax changes in Tallahassee.
The commission moved and seconded a motion to deny Resolution 2026-R39; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff said they would defer further action on the property and pursue consolidated planning for surplus buildings and long-term facility needs.
What’s next: staff will not proceed with acquisition steps and will instead present options for consolidating city-owned properties and a recommended process for addressing facility needs, including a possible public workshop.
