Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Rahderts invest in Citrus County

The couple see a lot of potential in Inverness, as they did in downtown St. Petersburg.

By JIM ROSS
Published October 11, 2006

INVERNESS - A shopping center in downtown Inverness - longtime home to Connors Office Supply, Accent Travel and Cockadoodles Cafe - has been sold for $2-million to Linda Davey Rahdert, wife of lawyer and developer George Rahdert of St. Petersburg.

The tenants will remain the same, and no major changes are planned at this time.

The Rahderts have adopted Citrus County as their second home. They split time between their St. Petersburg residence and a home in southeast Citrus County.

"The chances for Inverness to really take form as a center of government and commerce and industry are terrific, and we're excited to have a part to play in that," George Rahdert said.

His St. Petersburg law firm represents the St. Petersburg Times on First Amendment issues.

The Rahderts have supported the rebirth of downtown St. Petersburg.

"I see in Inverness some of the same potential, albeit on a different scale," he said.

The strip center is on Tompkins Street and faces the new Inverness Government Center.

Constance "Connie" Connors, the seller, declined comment through a spokeswoman at the family office supply and equipment store. Her late husband was Walt Connors, a former court clerk, educator, coach and businessman who died last year.

Inverness City Manager Frank DiGiovanni said he looks forward to working with the Rahderts: "We're pleased to learn the new owner is familiar with downtown redevelopment. That's important."

The second phase of the city's downtown refurbishing is under way. Crews are planting trees, installing benches and streetlights, and building wider sidewalks. Similar redevelopment has been going on for years.

DiGiovanni expects that the new owners will invest further in their property. According to county property records, the center was built in the 1950s. Its assessed value, for tax purposes, was $931,300 in 2005 - a 37 percent increase over the 2004 assessment.

[Last modified October 10, 2006, 19:35:45]