Winter Park sells former bowling alley property, comes closer to library campus name

A piece of land owned by Winter Park along Fairbanks Avenue has changed hands.

Winter Park City Commissioners approved the sale of the city-owned property at 1111 W. Fairbanks Ave. at their Monday, March 26 meeting.

Verax Investments LLC, which plans to build a mixed-use medical and business office on the land, offered to purchase the property for $3.5 million — higher than the land’s appraised value of $2.96 million.

The property, the former site of the Bowl America, was originally purchased by the city from Rollins College. It was put up for a notice of disposal by the city, opening up a process where potential buyers can make offers.

The City Commission also gave conditional use approval to Verax to construct the two-story 20,000-square-foot medical and general office building during Monday’s meeting.

But several residents who spoke during the meeting believed the city should have kept the Fairbanks Avenue property because to its close proximity to Martin Luther King Jr. Park and its potential to become added green space.

“Sometimes financial distress forces decisions to sell precious assets — a visit to any pawn shop will illustrate this fact,” Beth Hall said. “But our city is not in financial distress, and this land is priceless in terms of the multitude of purposes it might serve.

“A vote not to approve this sale would allow you to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat,” she said. “I urge you not to approve this sale.”

“Stewardship is protecting assets and I count this property as an asset, because it could be turned into park land,” Charlie Williams said. “My suggestion is we hold on to the property and see what’s going on in the north end (of MLK Park) with the library and the events center. We could have a challenged site. There could be foundation issues. … Let’s slow it down.”

But the majority of the commission said they felt selling the property made sense.

“We used money out of our reserves to buy this property, so I look at it as an asset that was part of our reserves,” City Commissioner Greg Seidel said. “If someone can give me the money to replace it and purchase the property … the money has to come from somewhere. Do I see this being a major part of connectivity of green space in Winter Park? Not at the corner of Fairbanks. Where are you going to tie into?”

“This used to be a bowling alley,” City Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel said. “There was nothing there that would belong to the city. It has never been park land, so we’re not giving away park land.”

“I appreciate always trying to keep green space — we’ve added more green space and improved green space in this city in the past three to seven years since I’ve sat on this commission,” Mayor Steve Leary said. “I think this commission has proven its commitment to that.”

The sale of the property and the conditional use approval for the project passed 4-1, with City Commissioner Carolyn Cooper dissenting. 

Winter Park Canopy

A new campus that would include the city’s new library and event center in Martin Luther King Jr. Park has moved a step closer to getting a name.

Mark Calvert, of Evolve Design Firm, spoke about the branding of the new campus, which has been in a preliminary discussion phase with the Library and Events Center Task Force.

The task force narrowed a list of potential names down to four choices: “Exchange,” “LENS” (Library, Entertainment, Nature, Sports), “Deco” and “Canopy.”

Calvert said the group ultimately decided on “Canopy” or the “Winter Park Canopy.”

“Canopy — accentuated by natural surroundings and architectural intent, this campus invokes a sensation of wonder, learning and open opportunity,” Calvert said. “The transparency of the walls give way to a feeling of inclusion, while the curvature of the corners suggest that all are welcome. Only in Winter Park can you experience approachable eminence. Welcome to the Canopy.”

The name is still subject to change, Director of Communications Clarissa Howard said. Some City Commissioners responded positively to the suggestion, while others wanted more time to consider it.

“I like it very much,” Sprinkel said. “I just like what it says — it speaks to what we represent.”

“I like to be able to think about things,” Cooper said. “I will tell you that I particularly like the word ‘canopy,’ because it has numerous connotations. The (tree) canopy is important to the city of Winter Park.”

The task force will come back at the next meeting on Monday, April 9, with more branding ideas, building off the proposed name of “Winter Park Canopy.”

Leary Sworn In

Leary was sworn in for his second term as mayor by his wife and three children.

“We had broad-based support for my campaign, and I’m very proud of the fact that the majority of people in this city understand how things are moving,” Leary said. “I appreciate the trajectory that we’re taking as a city. We will continue to work with everybody and hear all voices.”