Constitution Green and it's Trees Saved by City for $5.85 Million


On March 16th, we told you Commissioner Patty Sheehan met with St Petersburg developer Mill Creek who wanted to purchase Constitution Green at 300 S Summerlin Ave, Orlando, Florida 32801  site of one of Orlando's oldest living trees, from the owners, the Caruso family, and develop it, leveling both the park and the 125 year old tree that grows in it. 

This tree is listed on the map of "significant" trees, along with other massive oaks.

In an interview with Channel 13 later that same day, Commissioner Sheehan said she would like to negotiate with the current owners of Constitution Park and try to have the city purchase the park. Sheehan told the Orlando Sentinel cost to the city to purchase the land would be a "substantial chunk."

In October, we finally learned what that substantial chunk will be: according to the Orlando Sentinel, it's $5.85 million in property and cash. It'll be $3.34 million in cash (thanks to the Community Redevelopment Agency budget) and $2.5 million-valued half acre of land at 129 East Gore Street. 

Both these moves have to be approved by City Council and the Community Redevelopment Agency's board and all of this is expected to close in January. 

According to the Orlando Sentinel, on Thursday the Mayor signed a letter of intent to buy the land. The letter of intent included a statement that the city was willing to exercise eminent domain in order to confiscate the park property for public use "if necessary."

Despite the city saying publicly in March that "the owners (of the land on which the tree lives) have not filed any applications for development, applications for any tree removal or any formal notification to terminate the lease, there was a rally and a petition, both in an effort to save the park and the tree. 

Constitution Green remains the only park the city was ever leasing land for. They were paying $1 per year in rent and the property taxes, which in 2014 were only $8,023.69.