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Dunedin Officials Cautious On Land Purchase

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: January 26, 2008

DUNEDIN, Fla. - DUNEDIN, Fla. - Dunedin officials would like to keep the city's hat in the ring when it comes to the potential purchase of waterfront property for a future park at Alt. 19 and Pershing Street.

City officials note, however, they do not want to be bound to purchase what is known as the Weaver property until they are sure the deal is worth it.

The city's acquisition of the seven acres of property north of downtown is contingent on acquiring a Florida Communities Trust grant to pay half the cost.

City Attorney John Hubbard reminded Dunedin officials that during the current fiscal year the trust only agreed to match the cost of purchasing the northern half of the parcel. The city would have to go through the process all over again next budget year if it wants help from the trust in buying the southern half.

City commissioners will discuss the issue at their Thursday, Feb. 7, meeting. City Manager Rob DiSpirito said Florida Communities Trust officials have asked the city to submit a grant contract for the northern parcel no later than Feb. 11.

The contract is necessary so officials can earmark money from the land-purchase trust fund for any potential grant to the city, DiSpirito said. The letter of intent would also enable the trust to proceed with acquiring two appraisals on the property.

Trust officials, Hubbard said, will not want to divulge what the appraisals suggest the land is worth to avoid complicating negotiations with the owner, businessman and country music singer-songwriter J.C. Weaver.

Weaver has asked $18 million for the land, which is bordered on the west by St. Joseph Sound and the east by the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail. An earlier appraisal had placed the property's value around $19 million.

Dunedin staff officials, however, have said the slump in the Florida real estate market that developed last year could have significantly reduced the value of the acreage since that appraisal.

Hubbard says he received a commitment from trust officials that the city can withdraw from the purchase at any time and not be bound by the contract adopted Feb. 7.

Under city policy at least four of the five City Commission members must vote to approve the purchase.

Hubbard said he is concerned over how the purchase would be consummated since it is predicated on the city being able to acquire both the northern and southern parcels.

The city will have to apply next year for another grant to help it acquire the south parcel. There are no assurances it will receive funding.

State agency officials notified him they would not enter into negotiations to acquire the southern parcel at this time.

Approving the contract will keep the city's options open so the City Commission can decide whether to proceed with the acquisition once the appraisals are in, said Mayor Bob Hackworth.

In a related issue, the city will investigate whether a "safe street crossing" can be acquired from the Florida Department of Transportation since the Weaver property is bisected by Alt. 19. The trust will require the safe crossing as part of the grant award.

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