TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - On Wednesday night's City of Tallahassee Commission agenda....whether or not to approve the proposed sale of nearly an acre of City owned property on Macomb Street, the area highlighted in red, to Landmark Properties for $485,000.
The developers plan? To turn it and the four acres next to it, into student housing and possibly some retail.
"Your regulations over the past several decades ask for this type of development to happen in this location," says Vinette Godalia, the attorney for the developer, "and the concept behind that, is the edge of the community towards Tennessee Street is perfect block to put urban density."
This is what the proposed development would look like. The parcel of land is in the heart of Frenchtown, and that doesn't sit well with residents.
"I don't like how if try to take out the community in Frenchtown or the land, it won't be the same Frenchtown any more" explains resident Jermaine Miller.
After listening to 15 citizens give their input, commissioners went back and forth on whether or not to approve the sale. In the end, they voted unanimously to delay the vote for a month.
Attorney Mutaqee Akbar who's been following this development and talking with those involved for months, says he is pleased with the decision.
"I thought it was a great decision. I'm happy about it," says Akbar. "I think it is necessary for us to get to the table, everybody to the table to make it something important for Frenchtown."
And while commissioners didn't approve the sale....the possibility of it is still on the table, says Cherie Bryant, planning director for the Tallahassee/Leon County Planning Department.
"Commissioners wanted to see more certainty about things like perhaps retail and funding for some of the historic elements, so we'll be working with stakeholders and bring them into the conversation," explains Bryant.
