SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a Contract for the Purchase of Real Property at 1838 Springtime Ave, Clearwater, FL., owned by Randall Windham at the accepted Appraised value of $385,000.00 plus closing expenditures not to exceed $10,000.00; totaling $395,000.00 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same, together with all other instruments required to affect closing.
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SUMMARY:
This parcel is a strategic acquisition for the City of Clearwater to facilitate the replacement of a bridge by the City of Clearwater. This property rests between two of three bridges (Springtime Ave and Overbrook Ave), identified for replacement. This property, in addition to the adjacent City-owned parcel at 1843 Springtime Ave, offers over 210’ feet of unobstructed access to the creek and adjacent bridge for materials staging and critical construction access.
The property has amenities along the creek that will need to be removed to facilitate the bridge replacement, and the restoration of those amenities would add additional cost to the project. Furthermore, the purchase negates the need to compensate a private owner for a temporary construction easement and permanent maintenance easement. Once the bridge replacement is complete the property will be evaluated for sale to recover the cost of purchase.
A formal appraisal was completed on July 24, 2025, with a valuation of three hundred eighty-five thousand ($385,000.00) dollars. Attempts were made to purchase an easement at this location as required for the bridge replacement project with no success. To help prevent further delay to the Lower Spring Branch project, to mitigate rising construction costs, avoid jeopardizing a time sensitive grant, and to realize the stormwater benefits, and avoid a potential conflict with any other potential buyer, staff recommends purchasing this parcel.
City staff have carefully weighed all options and support this proposed purchase.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
ENST 180003-ACQ-LNDPUR $395,000
To provide additional funding needed for this purchase, a first quarter budget amendment will transfer $50,000 from capital project ENST180010, Lower Spring Branch Improvements to ENST180003, Stormwater System Expansion. These projects are funded by revenues from the Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
Purchasing this property will help the City achieve Strategic Objective 1.2 Maintain Public infrastructure, mobility systems, natural lands, environmental resources, and historic features through systematic management efforts: and 1.3 Adopt responsive levels of service for public facilities and amenities and identify resources.
