BRADENTON, Fla. — The city of Bradenton is making new plans for the public works building on 9th Street.
City leaders recently approved the purchase of 32 acres of land for a new building that would consolidate public works and utilities as well as water and solid waste. Mayor Gene Brown said the investment is part of the city's larger revitalization vision.
"We had to figure out if we were going to expand the urban core and develop that area and try to energize that area. Obviously, our public works and sanitation had to be relocated," Brown said.
If all goes according to plan, the city's public works and utilities will move from the current facility, a 2-story structure built in 1935, which leaders say is falling apart and has limited space.
The operations would move to a 32-acre property at the corner of 9th Street and U.S. 301. Members of the Bradenton City Council voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of the parcels of land which is owned by Tropicana for $5.25 million.
"Everything kind of just fell in place and that property became available, which is really still close to our downtown and we can still utilize it," Brown explained.
City officials said the plan is to demolish the old building once the move to the new location has been completed. This would make room for the expansion of the baseball park next door and the revitalization of the areas surrounding the park.
"The city park concept is adding a third baseball field so we can have tournament baseball. We can have events at those fields that would be other than just baseball, but it'll be engaged the rest of the year and that's what's important. Really engaging the area to connect the city from downtown to Village of the Arts to an entertainment district there on ninth" Brown said.
"I think it's fantastic that they're looking at revitalizing but we really need to have a community forum to really discuss where we're going in the future," Dawn Collins, a business owner in the Village of the Arts district, said.
Other business owners in the area said THAT while they welcome the plans for revitalization, they are concerned the execution of the vision is going too slow.
"Have it be sooner than later. We are not going to be able to survive another three years of what the past two have been like," Collins said.
Mayor Brown said eventually being able to consolidate city administrative services as well as public works, utilities, and solid waste operations would improve the quality of workspace and efficiency for staff.
"The staff is more excited about coming to work. When they're given the opportunity to improve in value and what they do, they'll work a lot harder for our city and they'll enjoy their job," Brown said.
According to Brown, the money for the land purchase is through a grant from Manatee County tourism revenue and department funds.
City leaders will continue their discussions on the issue of a new city hall at their next meeting in June.