Tampabay: 100 meet to discuss submerged land sale

SOUTH PASADENA -- More than 100 angry South Pasadena residents met with their attorney Thursday night to discuss recent revelations that real estate speculator Don Connolly bought submerged land abutting their waterfront lots.

Geoff Apthorp, a spokesman for the residents, said emotions at the meeting ran high as their attorney revealed the scope of Connolly's holdings and his bid for the 61 lots he holds at the Pasadena Golf Club Estates in south Pinellas County.

According to a fact sheet prepared by attorney Christopher Sanders, Connolly bought the property for $2,000 at a tax deed sale in February. He is offering to vacate all claims to the property if lot owners agree to buy the slivers of land for $5,000 each.

The Times wasn't permitted to stay in the meeting, and Apthorp and others declined to discuss details of the 21/2-hour discussion. But they made clear that they plan to take swift action, and placed blame on Pinellas County government.

"The county really let us down," Apthorp said.

The group appointed a seven-member committee to formulate a plan and act as a liaison between property owners, Connolly's attorneys and county officials.

The committee plans to meet this weekend to hash out further details of their plan with Sanders, and three other attorneys who have agreed to take their case pro bono.

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