- May 18, 2025
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When about a dozen commissioners from Longboat Key and Manatee County met on May 7, several voiced strong support for a community center on Longboat Key.
Longboat Key commissioners traveled to Bradenton for a joint meeting with the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners on May 7 to discuss overlapping issues between the organizations, including the potential community center.
Given the county recently backed out of its previous plan to build a community space for Longboat residents, the topic was anticipated to draw discussion as the county and town stumbled upon a possible alternative space.
According to town manager Howard Tipton, a property owned by the Chiles Group, located at 6920 Gulf of Mexico Drive, is for sale. The space is about an acre and a half and includes a 1,300-square-foot multi-use room, two bathrooms and 88 graded parking spaces.
Tipton said a lease is not an option at the space, and estimates for the property range from $3 million to $5 million.
The need for a community space on the north end is evident, Tipton said.
“When we think about the oldest parts of our community, that is on the north end,” Tipton said. “They have long been looking for a community space they can gather in.”
Manatee County previously entered a four-year lease in a 6,100 square-foot space in Whitney Plaza. The county drew up plans for a $1.2 million renovation and spent about $135,080 to lease it in the first year.
But, county staff and commissioners blamed the hurricanes and damage to the space sustained as one of the main reasons they decided to break the lease earlier this year.
Manatee County District 3 Commissioner Tal Siddique, whose district includes the Manatee County portion of Longboat, also said he didn’t think it was wise to put that amount of money into a leased space and preferred the county find a permanent space.
When Longboat Key presented the new option at the May 7 meeting, several commissioners were already aware of the opportunity, including At-Large Commissioner and Chair George Kruse.
Kruse emphasized his stance in support of getting Longboat a community space.
“I think community spaces are important in all of our neighborhoods,” Kruse said. “The short answer, for me, is that it all comes down to cost and availability. But I’m 100% on board with working something out, whether it’s here or someplace else. I think Longboat Key needs something.”
The county previously planned to engage the county’s school board to help operate the space with adult education courses and other programming. Siddique said he doesn’t know if this would be the right move from now on, but agrees something needs to happen.
“I do think the community needs a community space here,” Siddique said. “It seems like (the new property) is really the best option. There aren’t many options on Longboat Key for this type of thing.”
Tipton said the town could provide support by helping to run the center with some extra hands, but a recent letter sent by Mayor Ken Schneier said, when it comes to finances, the town isn’t in a position to help with the purchase of a space.
Longboat Key District 5 Commissioner Sarah Karon said the buy-in from both entities was important, but maintaining connections with the local community which helped build this vision was equally important.
“You’ve got the community energized and interested to be your best possible partners,” Karon said. “You’ve got some opportunities on the north end that give you partnership and buy-in from the town.”
Maureen Merrigan traveled to the Bradenton building to voice her opinions on behalf of Longboat Key North. Merrigan is one of the co-chairs for the coalition of 28 homeowners and condominium associations on the north end of Longboat Key.
“We’re a very active and very engaged community on the north end of the Key. The county made a commitment to us. The community was very excited,” Merrigan said. “They were very disappointed when that came off the table. We had put lots of hours into how it would be programmed, how we would volunteer to staff it.”
Merrigan said the comments made that day by commissioners encouraged her and hoped the idea would continue to move forward.
In reaching a consensus, Tipton will continue conversations with county staff to evaluate the potential of purchasing the north-end space as the sale of the property progresses.
