Tuesday, February 10, 2009

UPDATE + News Press article

Below, please find the portion of Brian's News Press article on last nights council meeting that pertains to the CRA/Golf Course. I would like to thank the Mayor and Council Members for voting unanimously to lend the CRA the funds for the study. This could have been a major stumbling block had the request been denied. Once the finding of necessity is complete and we are brought in to the CRA the money will be paid back to the city from CRA funds.

Negotiations are moving along nicely. I'll keep you updated.

Thank you, Mary

By Brian Liberatore • bliberatore@news-press.com • February 10, 2009

Golf Course

The city council agreed to spend $27,000 on a study that is the first step toward expanding the Community Redevelopment Agency District to encompass the former Golf Club of Cape Coral. The move would allow the CRA to buy and redevelop the course.

If the study doesn't justify expansion, the city could be out the $27,000, but CRA Executive Director John Jacobsen said it's worth it.

"This is our only chance," Jacobsen said. "This is our best chance. And I think it's a very, very good chance."

Friday, February 06, 2009

Plan to incorporate golf course into CRA district nears fruition

By GRAY ROHRER grohrer@breezenewspapers.com CAPE CORAL DAILY BREEZE

Plans to bring The Golf Club golf course into the Cape Coral Redevelopment Agency are inching closer to becoming reality, as officials with the course's current owner, Florida Gulf Ventures, and the Trust for Public Lands, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of open spaces, are nearing an agreement to purchase the course.

"The Trust for Public Lands and Florida Gulf Ventures, they've agreed to everything in principle," said John Jacobsen, executive director of the CRA.

According to Jacobsen, the two parties will agree on an appraiser and the parameters of the appraisal of the property.

As the golf course's purchase is being negotiated, the CRA is looking to annex the surrounding land so it may buy the land from TPL.

The CRA must get the approval of the Cape Coral City Council and the Lee County Commission to annex the 180-acre course and surrounding homes into its boundaries.

City council members are scheduled to discuss the issue Monday. They could decide to move forward with a study to determine if the area is blighted and can be incorporated into the CRA.

According to city documents, the study is projected to cost $26,500 and should be completed by March 31.