Manatee County purchases administration building in Lakewood Ranch

Manatee County residents offered mixed reviews on the county's plan to buy an additional administration building in Lakewood Ranch; however, commissioners were unanimous in saying the deal was too good to get away. 

The $23.5 million purchase of 9000 Town Center Parkway was approved at the May 6 commission meeting. 

Residents weren’t as opposed to the purchase as they were opposed to the lack of transparency surrounding the purchase. 

While commissioners have brought up the subject of moving east in general terms, May 6 was the first mention of this particular purchase. 

“The lack of any public discussion about this purchase represents poor governance,” said Ruth Harenchar, president of the League of Women Voters of Manatee County. 

Harenchar asked commissioners to postpone voting. Commissioner Carol Felts made the same request for the public's sake, but she wasn’t against the purchase. 

Felts noted that the county needed more room for staff six years ago when the Lena Road property was acquired as an intended county complex. 

Commission Chair George Kruse pushed to move forward during that same meeting. He called the purchase a "tremendous deal" and a "unique opportunity."  

He estimated the cost to build a comparable office at $40 million to $50 million, not factoring in utilities. 

“This is a benefit to the taxpayer,” Kruse said. “We can buy it so cheap because the office market is massively depressed right now due to work at home and other reasons, which is pushing down demand for office acquisition and ability to finance office (acquisitions)."

The closing is scheduled for Sept. 1.