City to take possession of diesel plant

MARK SCHUMANN

Tthe site of Vero Beach's original power plant has been proposed for redevelopment as an art center. — The site of Vero Beach’s original power plant has been proposed for redevelopment as an art center.

Now that negotiators for the City of Vero Beach and the B-B Development Team, LLC have reach a court-approved agreement on who will possess and control the old diesel plant, the historic site may soon be the topic of renewed discussions about how it can best be used to enhance the downtown area.

In 2001, B-B Development Team signed a lease on the property with the intention of developing it. The City and the company remain in litigation over past due rent and claims and counter claims of non-performance on the original lease.

However the litigation is resolves, the agreement reached this week will enable the City take possession of the property in to week, and to begin exploring other options for the site.

City Manger Jim O’Cconnor said today he will recommend to the City Council issuing a request for proposals from prospective buyers, with the primary considerations being price and use. O’Connor stressed that he will recommend selling the property. “We don’t’ need to be a landlord,” he said.