Vacant Lot Sale Prompts G. WIZ Relocation Speculation

Sarasota City Commissioners are preparing to sell six vacant lots the city owns, but is holding on to a valuable waterfront property to further explore opportunities.

A bayfront parcel at 1000 Boulevard of the Arts had the eyes of a few commissioners light up during a Monday afternoon session. The price was last tagged at $1.09 million in 2011 for the vacant lot beside the Hyatt hotel.

Commissioners are looking for a way to help the with renewing and restructuring a lease, and are thinking that a move might be best for the museum to a better spot with a favorable lease and in turn, package the museum's current lot with the 1000 Boulevard of the Arts space for economic development, getting more money for the city.

The lot and G. WIZ's location will be a topic in a future city commission workshop for discussion.

"I'm in conversations with the (G. WIZ) chairman of the board and what we're going to do with the lease extension," Mayor Suzanne Atwell said. "We really need to be careful what we do with it. I want to be real careful with this property."

Commissioner Shannon Snyder supports a move for G. WIZ to be in an updated space and away from a storm surge area that could ruin its investment one day.

He said that this type of package to relocate G. WIZ would require some financing help from the county government to make possible.

Commissioner Paul Caragiulo said "a hand of friendship should certainly be extended to G. WIZ at this time."

The commission on Monday also authorized staff to approve the following properties to be considered for sale following an appraisal:

• 1869 4th St

• 2021 12th St

• 700 Central Ave

• 2425 Central Ave

• 701 Cohen Way

• 1007 N. East Ave

(See above map for more information about each property.)

The values, last appraised in 2011, for those vacant lots range from $31,000 to $177,000 and if prices would be the same this year, would fetch a combined $548,400 before fees.

Staff identified 10 vacant lots overall that would be best to sell. Four properties are being withheld from the sale for now.

Properties will also be removed from the affordable housing market and the city would also hire a Realtor to market the properites, said Mary Tucker, purchasing manager for the city.

Commissioner Charles Willie Shaw requested to withold the following properties:

• 1362 32nd St.

• 3001 N. Lemon Ave.

• 1384 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Shaw was concerned that the 32nd Street and North Lemon lots, even though having two different zoning categories, might attract someone to attempt a package price seeing how they are located nearby and could lower profits.