Manatee County Government Considers Eastern Relocation

Key Information

• Location of New Building: 9000 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch
• Proposed Purchase Amount: $23.5 million
• Size of the Building: 101,312 square feet
• Total Budget for Move: Under $35 million (includes purchase, remodeling, equipment)
• Current Administration Building: Downtown Bradenton
• Key Commissioners: Carol Felts, Bob McCann
• Commission Meeting to Finalize Decision: Scheduled for May 6

As the population center of Manatee County shifts east, services and employees are looking to follow.

The matter has been a topic of discussion for commissioners since 161 acres were purchased off Lena Road in 2020 with the intention of building a county complex.

County staff are now recommending the purchase of a $23.5 million, 101,312-square-foot building in Lakewood Ranch to serve as the new county administration building.

Presently, the administration building is located in downtown Bradenton.

Commissioners Carol Felts and Bob McCann confirmed that the current building will remain because it lies within the “county seat,” as defined by the Florida Constitution wherein the principal offices and permanent records of all county officers are located.

Commission meetings would continue in the Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers in the downtown building, while Development Services and other departments would relocate.

“It’ll save (East County residents) a lot of trips,” stated Commissioner Bob McCann. “You could do permitting over here, and I’ll have an office here. You can come see me (in Lakewood Ranch), instead of having to go all the way downtown.”

The seller of the property is CMHC 9000 JV LLC, a limited liability company based in Delaware, with management from MH Commercial Real Estate Fund LLC, located in West Palm Beach.

A site visit to the property at 9000 Town Center Parkway took place on January 30. As noted by McCann, this was the only property considered for purchase due to its availability and existing structure.

The building, which opened in 1998 and underwent renovations in 2011, is listed on LoopNet, a commercial real estate portal.

One significant concern for commissioners regarding the Lena Road property has been the high cost of building a new county complex from scratch.

By contrast, Sarasota County is transitioning its administration center eastward, constructing a new four-story, 122,000-square-foot building.

Sarasota County sold its downtown administration building for $25 million in December 2021, with its new center expected to be completed later this year for around $74 million.

Conversely, Manatee County’s total budget for the move to Town Center Parkway is under $35 million.

This budget encompasses the purchase price of $24.5 million as well as remodeling and equipment costs.

In comparison, the Lena Road property cost $32.5 million, is significantly larger, but lacks any existing structure.

Though there are no immediate plans for the property adjacent to the Lena Road Landfill, it will be retained by the county.

Commissioner Tal Siddique previously advocated to remove it from surplus property listings.

The county is exploring utilitarian uses for the site such as storage facilities, garages, and possibly a fueling station.

If approved, the Town Center location will accommodate administration offices and public services.

Growing Pains

Commissioner Carol Felts emphasized that more space is required, highlighting the State Attorney’s Office as an example of need.

The office currently resides in the administration building and has expressed a desire to take over the second floor.

Adequate parking for citizens was noted as another essential consideration.

The Town Center Parkway location offers 615 surface parking spaces alongside covered parking.

Though Commission Chair George Kruse was not available for comment, he previously indicated a shift to accommodate population growth is inevitable.

He noted that limited parking downtown would necessitate a transition to serving residents in their area.

The city’s downtown parking report indicates over 1,700 spaces, yet parking at the current administration building is restricted to two hours.

Commissioners plan to fund the new property by eliminating planned repairs for the existing garage, estimated at over $8 million.

Currently, two tenants occupy the building, including TriNet and FEMA, with leases ending within the year.

If approved, the commission meeting on May 6 will determine the next steps, as staff and residents await a detailed presentation.