Fort Myers City Council denied Pitch Prime’s most recent negotiated final terms for the redevelopment of City of Palms Park at a March 18 meeting.
The decision follows the Council’s denial of City Manager Marty Lawing’s recommendation to reject all proposals submitted for the redevelopment of City of Palms Park and reissue Request for Proposals during a Feb. 20 meeting.
On March 18, Lawing presented what he described as the best and final terms Pitch Prime can agree to concerning the former spring training home of the Boston Red Sox.
In the revised proposal, Pitch Prime outlines multiuse development and revitalization of the stadium, including fields, suites, seating and lighting. An MLS NEXT Pro Soccer Team, a youth Soccer Academy, pickleball and padel ball courts, D1 Fort Myers Training and community outreach programs also were outlined in the revised plan.
Additionally, Pitch Prime proposed revitalization of the Skatium and the expansion of the Beach Volleyball Complex.
The plans were in line with what was originally proposed, but when it came down to the numbers, coucil members said it was discouraging and disappointing.
Council was concerned with the amount of private investment proposed and that the city would have to borrow an estimated $18 million for the project.
Pitch Prime’s proposal includes a city stadium capital investment of $15.4 million. “They’re asking the city to make the investment and borrow the funds initially,” Lawing said.
The Skatium improvements are estimated to be a little more than $2 million, which also would be paid for by a loan the city would need to take out, Lawing said.
Pitch Prime is anticipating a 2025 season kickoff pending city negotiations. Because of that, Lawing said Pitch Prime wants to get the soccer aspect started before it moves into private development, but the city wants to see the private development early on.
The multiuse development investment plans will start no later than January 2026, as negotiated in the proposal. “That private development would range between $50 and $70 million, and if that private investment or development does not start by January 2026, the city would get 10% of the [developer’s] $5 million [mixed-use initial investment] or $500,000,” Lawing said.
Council member Liston Bochette said the city is going into this blind and the numbers aren’t adding up. “One of the reasons we moved this forward was there would be no debt, no bond,” he said. “Now we’re hearing about bonds and it’s not what we heard originally. I think we could regret this someday, unless they can get the numbers up significantly higher and satisfy the needs.”
Council members Fred Burson and Terolyn Watson agreed the city either needs to go back to the drawing board or needs to move on with next in line for negotiations, which would be United Soccer League.
Prior to a motion, Bill Gramer representing Pitch Prime said they would be more than amenable to purchasing the whole property up front this year to show their commitment to the project.
“That would take that whole load off the city’s concern and the angst associated with us not moving forward in developing this,” he said.
A motion to accept the proposed final terms as presented failed in a 4-2 vote. Overall, the city wants no debt, no bonds and a more appealing private investment. “What the Council is saying is if you can, come back with a better deal that the Council could entertain,” Mayor Kevin Anderson said to Lawing. “If you can’t, don’t waste the time.”
