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The City Council accepts a contract to buy the waterfront property. Several conditions still must be met before purchase.
By ED QUIOCO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 23, 2002
OLDSMAR -- City Council members have moved closer to buying a 6.7-acre waterfront property by agreeing to put the $2.5-million deal under contract.
Although the Roger and Lila Kumar property was not listed on the agenda for this week's council meeting, council members added it to the schedule and unanimously accepted the contract.
The contract is contingent upon several conditions being met, including getting an appraisal establishing that the property is worth at least $2-million and a survey confirming the size of the lot. The city has until Dec. 30 to ratify the contract.
"Am I worried?" council member Marcelo Caruso said. "It's a lot of money for the city. But it's probably a good thing for the future. It's a good vision."
Mayor Jerry Beverland, the chief supporter of the proposal, bragged about the property's potential. Talk of using the property for a cultural center and a passive park already has created a buzz, he said.
Though he declined to give specifics, Beverland said wealthly patrons already have approached the city wanting to get involved.
"There have been some very, very powerful people who have contacted me to say that if we formed a board or something for this cultural center, they want to be a part of it," Beverland said. "Two of these people have already told me that they would serve, and both of these people are millionaires."
Beverland explained after the meeting that the city most likely would set up a governing board for the center. The board would be filled with "people who can help us raise money," he said.
"We need to set it up with some influential people who can help make it a success, a financial success," Beverland said Wednesday.
In May, a nonprofit cultural arts foundation severed its relationship with the city citing a growing rift between foundation leaders and Beverland. The Oldsmar Cultural Arts Foundation incorporated in 1998 to augment the city's arts program and raise money for a cultural arts building.
The city also could receive big private donations and more than $1-million in state grants to help pay for the purchase, Beverland said. Factoring those in, he estimated that the city could end up spending about $1-million for the property.
"This is going to end up being a very profitable venture down the road," Beverland said. "There are some things I can't say right now. But we will get some donations that are incredible."
City Council members discussed the purchase for the first time earlier this month. The Kumars, who have lived in Oldsmar for 30 years, are considering moving and wanted to give the city the first shot at buying their 6.7-acre property and 23,000-square-foot home at 202 Shore Drive E.
The lot has 440 feet of waterfront with a sweeping view of the bay. The home is the first floor of a hotel built in the 1920s as part of city founder R.E. Old's vision for the city.
Council members are waiting on a property appraisal, a survey and other information before they vote on whether to close the contract. City Council member David Tilki also made sure at Tuesday night's meeting that there would be other public hearings on the proposal to give residents a chance to voice their opinions.
"I'm definitely going to go along," Caruso said at the end of the meeting. "Let's hope that it's the right thing to do. But I think it is."
In an unrelated matter, council members directed City Manager Bruce Haddock to continue negotiations with Pinellas County to make sure a proposal to build a county reclaimed water tank in the city comes with more perks.
Council members said they were concerned that the proposal needs more buffering between the tank and its access road with a nearby neighborhood called Countryside Key. Beverland also wanted Haddock to try to work out a better deal when it comes to how much reclaimed water the county will buy from the city.
The county is asking Oldsmar to change the land use and zoning of 2.57 acres adjacent to Canal Park on Tampa Road. The county needs the land use and zoning change to build the 41-foot-high, concrete tank, which would help the county provide reclaimed water to residents in North Pinellas.