News
Winter Haven Chain O' Lakes planning mixed-use development
Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010
City-Developer talks planned for Chain O' Lakes property
WINTER HAVEN - The Chain O' Lakes property, the future of which has been in flux since the departure of the Cleveland Indians in spring 2008, could be on its way to becoming a mixed-use development.
On the heels of Monday night's Winter Haven City Commission approval on first reading of future land changes for the Chain O' Lakes property, one step in preparing it for mixed-use development, city officials are poised to enter into negotiations with a developer interested in purchasing it.
City Manager Dale Smith confirmed Tuesday the existence of a non-binding letter of intent between the city and the Orlando-based Benge Development Corporation to negotiate the sale of a portion of the Chain O' Lakes Property. The approximately 70 acres of city-owned property located at Cypress Gardens Boulevard and U.S. Highway 17 contain the Chain O' Lakes Complex, several ball fields, baseball stadium and facilities formerly used by the Cleveland Indians, and the Orange Dome. Benge Development is negotiating with the city to purchase 40 acres of it.
Developer Tony Benge, who with business partner Taylor Pursell of Birmingham, Alabama, is currently developing the old Vigoro fertilizer plant property located across U.S. 17 from the Chain O' Lakes Complex, said development plan, which will encompass the properties on both sides of the highway, is "totally fabulous."
"It's totally being knocked out of the park with the plan that is there," Benge said. "What (residents of Winter Haven) will end up with is a well-planned, unified and carefully analyzed development."
Benge said the same architectural standards will be used to develop both east and west of U.S. 17.
"The overall feel and sense of arrival will be uniform," he said, although the developments will differ in what they include. "There will be some sense of arrival as you cross that bridge (over the canal between lakes Shipp and Lulu) coming into the city."
Benge said he has been in negotiations with several retailers for a year or so but he needed the letter of intent to move forward in bringing these companies to the development.
Smith said he is pleased the negotiations are progressing and believes the plans Benge has for the property are in line with the city's goals for the future.
"I feel that it is important we found a developer that has the same vision that we have in order to create a place of destination for Winter Haven," Smith said. "This will go hand-in-hand with the Legoland Florida development because once we get Legoland visitors in town, they will have a reason to come on into Winter Haven."
Dave Dickey, the city's development director, said a preliminary concept plan for the property will be sent with the letter to Benge.
"The intent is to start framing the parameters of a more detailed agreement at some point in the future," Dickey said.
According to Dickey, about 40 acres of the Chain O' Lakes property are available for purchase. This includes the area designated Monday night with a commercial land use. The remaining approximately 25 acres along the lakefront will be maintained as public property.
The land-use changes will allow for commercial development along U.S. 17 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard while preserving the shoreline of Lake Lulu for public use. It also provides for the potential of a mix of residential, commercial, institutional and recreational uses on the site.
"Existing recreational amenities located on the property will be relocated to other areas of the property and throughout the city as the site redevelops," Dickey said.
Smith said one portion of the Chain O' Lakes Complex, such as the pool or theater, will not be torn down until its replacement is finished and in use.
"There will not be a gap in service," Dickey said.
The current recreation complex, including a gymnasium, is expected to be rebuilt along the shore of Lake Lulu while the arts facilities housing Ridge Art Association and Theatre Winter Haven will most likely be relocated downtown. Ridge Art Association is in the process of moving into a city-owned building at 245 W. Central Ave. The future home of Theatre Winter Haven has not yet been decided. Ball fields will be placed in various neighborhood parks throughout the city.
The Orange Dome, which will probably be the first building demolished, will not be rebuilt, Dickey said.
"I want to emphasize this is a conceptual plan," he said, adding that it is subject to change during the planning process.
Benge said work on the development will take about three years.
Tagged: Winter Haven, Chain O' Lakes