Mixed-use development planned for Lakeland

  • 2019-05-26
Discussions are in motion for a development on North Massachusetts Avenue in Lakeland pending financial negotiations.

The Redevelopment Agency for the Lakeland community wants to bargain a contract to develop 321 and 313 North Massachusetts Avenue. The city owns both lots, which are next to what used to be a Greyhound bus station. The agency hopes the city commissioners allow it.

According to Alis Drumgo, Interim manager for the community redevelopment agency, Goldenrod Land Development (FURC1) LLC is the only developer that showed interest in buying .40 acre of land since last month, when it was announced the city had put it on the market.

In 2006, the city bought the land for around $560,000. The proposal request said that the city and community redevelopment agency, and the downtown development agency share the land. Since the organizations share a mission, they are ready to sell some of it.

FURC1 LLC wants to build two mixed-use buildings. It will contain 48,000 square feet of residential space, 27,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, and 81,000 square feet of flexible area for offices or more residential space.

The planned outdoor look reflects the history of Lakeland and Hotel Thelma's popular architecture. The hotel was built in 1913 and housed the Cleveland Indians during their training season in the 1920s.

A poster printing business could create clear and persuasive visuals to show the city council in order to gain approval for the negotiations.