The Winter Park City Commission voted to table a deal last week that would purchase property at 929 and 957 W. Fairbanks Avenue with a 3-2 vote – a decision that would keep a number of local businesses off the chopping block for a little bit longer.
The City of Winter Park has been looking at purchasing the property in order to add a travel lane to the corner of Fairbanks and Denning Drive in an effort to address some perceived traffic issues at the intersection. The purchase would affect a number of businesses, including Austin’s Coffee, Imperial Laundry and Dry Cleaners, and Vines and Forks.
Some Commissioners, despite the fact that the move has been in the works since 1994, voiced concern over taking on existing leases and possible headaches associated with maintaining the older buildings through the end of the existing agreements – likely in 2025. So they voted to postpone discussion of a purchase for the immediate future and asked that more research be carried out to consider if the proposed road changes really would impact the traffic flow after all.
Kick the can down the road. The ugly, rusty can in this case. Why would the building owner keep up with a “tabled deal” building? How can these businesses spend to thrive? You know, sometimes ideas are just bad ideas.
Further, this is a classic political/developer play. Delay the agenda items that are important to engaged residents. Eventually the residents expend their energy and time and resume their jobs and lives. Meanwhile, the people behind the project (City Staff in this case) are getting paid to stay energized and time invested.
The City needs to buy the properties now!