Winter Park City Commission meeting set for May 22

Winter Park will look to finally approve the sale of a piece city-owned property off of Comstock Avenue at today’s City Commission meeting.

The sale would put an end to an ongoing dispute of fairness and proper conduct. Winter Park Redevelopment Agency LTD and Rowland & Company LLC had both submitted offers last month to purchase the land and construct townhomes on the property. 

But before the City Commission had the chance to vote on an offer on April 24, a dispute was made. 

Attorney Rosemary Hayes, speaking on behalf of Rowland & Company, said that Dan Bellows of Winter Park Redevelopment Agency LTD had reportedly submitted an offer of “$450,000 and/or a thousand dollars more should anybody else bid.” 

Rowland & Company LLC had submitted an offer of $455,000, but Bellows’ earlier offer put him at $456,000. 

It’s unfair to use that kind of bid to acquire the property, Hayes said. 

“To say ‘I’ll pay $1,000 more than anyone else,’ well that means I can win any bid that you guys have here,” Hayes said. 

“We all know that’s grossly unfair.” 

The Winter Park City Commission voted during their last meeting to have CBRE, the city’s appointed broker, handle the sale of a property at 301 W. Comstock Ave.

It would give the city a fresh start in the sale, and parties were asked to give their best and final offer through CBRE.

Winter Park Redevelopment Agency LTD has made the highest offer at $481,000, according to the City Commission agenda.