Summary The City Commission, on November 20, 2006 and April 7, 2014, declared a total of 23 Parcels of City owned real estate surplus. The properties were not purchased for City use and then found to be surplus. They were deeded to the County for non payment of real estate taxes and then transferred to the City pursuant to Florida Statute. Nearly all parcels transferred to the City by this process are of little or no value and present maintenance and potential liability concerns. A few, however, are retained for and employed as retention basin sites or other municipal purposes, The balance are declared surplus by the City Commission, offered to other governmental entities, offered for sale to contiguous property owners or otherwise marketed as instructed and authorized by the City Commission. That process was followed here. Two such parcels are here offered for disposition, one for sale and one by donation.
Sale of Parcel
Tax Parcel # 03541-040-000, as shown and identified on the attached Property Appraiser Map, has been carried on the books as vacant City owned surplus property valued at $2,800. The lot to the immediate west is Parcel 03531-039-000 and has been carried on the books of the Property Appraiser as "Heirs Property" since the death of the owner of record. A person, Mr. Strickland, identified as the son of the deceased owner of lot 39 moved to the city, has retained Alachua Attorney Marvin Bingham to probate the estate of his mother and to clear the title to the "Heirs Property".
Mr. Strickland took steps to bring the Heirs Property to a good state of repair and maintenance and, at the same time, mistakenly cleared the small surplus City contiguous lot (#40). Mr. Strickland reported the cost for removal of dangerous large trees as in excess of 50% of appraised value of the Lot. The attached aerial photo demonstrates that lot configurations similar lots 39 and 40 are merged as one along the west side of NW 141st Street. Therefore, Mr. Strickland's mistake of including the City surplus lot as part of the Heirs Property is understandable.
City Staff recommends to remove the identified Lot 40 from City ownership. The Lot has been determined to serve no present of future municipal purpose, and its sale will remove liability for maintenance, exposure to liability claims and property taxes. Mr. Strickland and his spouse offered to purchase Lot 40 upon payment to the City of $1,400 plus the purchaser paying the $436.36 in closing costs as set forth on the attached closing statement.
Lot 40 was transferred from the County to the City at no cost after a deed was issued to the County due to non payment of real estate taxes.
Donation of Parcel
City Staff also recommends the donation of City Surplus Lot , Parcel #03316-046-000, see attached Property Appraiser Map, to the Church of God by Faith, Inc., a not for profit corporation. The Lot was declared surplus. Access via a platted but not established or maintained "phantom street" is subject to challenge but access is available to the named church across its contiguous property that fronts on NW 150th Avenue.
The Lot was offered for sale to all contiguous property owners at the Property Appraiser set value of $2,000 and no offers were received.
The lot is overgrown, presents potential liability and serves no municipal purpose. However, the Lot can function of some use to the long established Church. The Church has agreed and will pay all closing costs as set forth on the attached Closing Statement. |