Manatee County officials have approved a $34 million plan to purchase and renovate the Lakewood Ranch building, where they will relocate several county government businesses.
The two-storey, 101,000-square-foot building is located on 11 acres at 9,000 Town Center Parkway in southeastern Manatee County. The county has reached a contract to purchase the property from a Delaware-based company for $23.5 million. Staff estimates an additional $11 million will be needed to equip and move the building branded as the “East County Campus.”
Staff say sectors that include development services, real estate management, financial management, government relations, public works and natural resources will be moving into new buildings in stages later this year. There are approximately 500 employees in total.
Meanwhile, the county will maintain its current administrative building at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., and the department that will benefit from its proximity to Manatee County Courthouse in downtown Bradenton.
Some growing divisions, like the county attorney’s office, give them room to expand downtown as other divisions leave. Also, several departments currently housed in other buildings across the county, including election office supervisors, will move to downtown, staff said.
In a press release, county officials also said the new campuses are “close to where much of the residential and commercial growth is occurring.”
The move to buy the new management building was a complete surprise to some residents who criticized the lack of transparency from county officials.
But officials say they have hunted places moving eastwards for years, claiming that buying existing buildings would save millions compared to buildings. They said the plans were far more pre-cleared due to the competitive nature of the property’s purchase.
County Administrator Charlie Bishop told committee members that county government needs more space to keep up with growth.
“We currently have no space at this facility,” Bishop said.
Under this plan, and in line with Florida law, Bradenton will remain the “county seat” of the manatee where the board will be held. The main offices and permanent records of county executives remain downtown.
Manatee officials move to buy new manager buildings
Looking at the costs of the new management building, the commissioner pulled all the money from previous plans to replace the county’s parking garage in downtown Bradenton.
The committee members appeared to support abandoning the overhaul of the parking garage. This has a total estimated cost of $84 million, likely to exceed $100 million, staff said. Some commissioners commented that car park sales could open rooms for downtown redevelopment projects, including grocery stores with their own parking garages.
Spend your days with Hayes
Subscribe to our free Stephenly newsletter
Columnist Stephanie Hayes shares thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.
You’re all signed up!
Want more free weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Check out all options
“This board has done some bad deals in the past,” Commissioner Jason Baerden said. “But I don’t think this is a bad thing. If a new car park is estimated to be over $100 million, this is not easy for me. This is a healthy financial decision.”
“Compared to other alternatives, this property is perfect for what we need to do and the ways we need to expand,” said Commissioner Minecrane.
The commissioner unanimously approved the purchase.
Residents respond to county plans
Some residents criticized the county’s plans and very short announcements about such a large purchase.
“The lack of public discourse about this purchase represents a bad governance,” said Ruth Harlencher, president of the Federation of Women Voters in Manatee County.
Harenchar pointed to concerns about the purchases raised in a report from the County Attorney’s Office, including a request for details on the seller.
“The public doesn’t feel safe that all of these legal concerns are being addressed properly,” Harenchar said.
However, other residents supported the purchase.
“That’s an opportunity cost savings, what, roughly $70 million?” said Manatee County resident Norman Bailey. “Why don’t you do that? As a taxpayer, I like how you’re saving money.”
What happens next?
Purchases are scheduled to be confirmed by September. The department will begin transferring to the new building as soon as it happens.
Currently, the building has two tenants. The personnel company Trinet is on the first floor and the federal emergency management agency on the second floor. Trinet must move before the transaction ends, but the county may opt to grant FEMA one-time lease extension until February 2026.
The county shares plans for Renaroad Properties
Staff also shared plans for the 161 acre property along Rena Road that the county purchased in 2020. The facility was previously discussed as a potential home for the new management building.
Instead, planned uses include:
*Public Works and Fleet Service Center
*Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Property and Evidence Storage Facility
*Splitting Sheriff’s Office and Manatee County EMS with Manatee County EMS
*Utility Labs and Distribution Facilities
Staff also hopes to release the current public works building, 1022 26th Ave. E., Bradenton, planned relocation of the department. The building could become the future home for housing initiatives like Fresh Start Manatee and housing initiatives like the sheriff’s office and EMS hub, they said.
