At last night’s city meeting, the Sanford commission unanimously agreed to buy out the Heritage Park development project.
Heritage Park has been in the works since it was proposed in 2017 by Sanford Waterfront Partners (SWP). The designers had presented goals for a bustling Downtown Sanford with a hope for 230 new apartments, restaurants and an upgraded live work community. However, a number of obstacles have occurred, causing significant delays in the continuation of the neighborhood and frustration among residents. The city will pay SWP around $4 million to be removed from the agreement.
Before the commission voted not to proceed with the development, Brady Lessard, director of economic development for the City of Sanford, gave a presentation answering some of the frequent questions regarding the process of Heritage Park Project and the outcomes of a buyout.
In response to the question, what were the primary reasons for delays in the project? Lessard stated “Who’s to blame? The developer, the city? If I'm sitting on the city’s side, which I'm ultimately here on the city’s side, you would blame the developer. If you’re on SWP you’re going to say the city. So it’s irrelevant at this point. This is truly an emotionless deal for me, these are numbers so that’s all in the past.”
Commissioner Britton is focused on the public having all of the details. “Brady, I’m sorry, I just think it’s important for the people to understand. I know that you’re saying it’s emotionless but we did have issues where COVID came in, there was funding, said Commissioner Britton. “ I mean and just the point of being transparent to our tax payers. Those are the reasons I was asking those specific questions… These are what people want to know.”
The Mayor addressed the city’s role in the deal. “I would say us getting FPL to do the work took much longer than we expected. Us vetting Michael’s for that part of the financing, I think we spent six or eight months on that,” said the mayor. “Going through the bonding thing twice was another six or eight months. So there were a lot of things on both sides.”
Lessard included that in terms of alternative uses for the public space, he’s heard everything from a public park space, single family homes, all apartments or all restaurants and more.
Commissioner Mahany raised a question, “Who really wins here? Neither of us?” The mayor responded “Either, neither of us or both of us.”
Lessad replied“ I would say, commissioner, that from the city’s perspective the spoils of victory are 6.5 million dollars, the opportunity to reimagine a downtown and a library of information that we can use to sharpen our project going forward. In this negotiation, I would think the city came out very well. But again… to have a seller you need a buyer, to have a buyer you need a seller. I don’t think that SWP is walking away bruised.”
The Mayor said that he was on the commission when Heritage Park became a plan and has been looking extensively at the deal over the years to see if it works for Sanford. “What is the best deal for the city, today?” Mayor Woodruff said he asked. “Despite the fact I do not want to write that check for 3.75 million dollars, in the long run I really do think that’s the best deal for the city.”
Commissioner Britton added “What we’re doing is in the best interest of the city. Stuff happens sometimes, you just have to move on. I remember how thrilled everyone was about it, I am sad to see it go but it is what it is at this point. All I expect from city staff is complete transparency.”
Commissioner Austin agreed on the importance of ending the deal “It was a good project, but over the years for whatever reason little pieces here and there were changed and it was no longer the deal we agreed to. I wish nothing but the best to SWP and Rich.”
