MARK SCHUMANN

City officials will meet Wednesday morning at 1o:30 to review and rank three competing proposals for developing the 1.64 acre old diesel plant site in downtown Vero Beach. The meeting is open to the public, and will be held at City Hall in the second floor training room.

After investing hundreds of thousands of dollars on environmental remediation, the City might now be able to recover its costs, and allow for an idle property in the central city to become a viable, taxable commercial enterprise.  Three bidders, each with different vision for the property, have submitted offers of $660,00, $650,000 and $625,000. All three offers include environmental contingencies, though City Manager Jim O’Connor said he believes any additional cleanup on the site will cost no more than $30,000.

According to O’Connor, price is only one factor in the City’s decision about which bid to accept. Equally important, he said, are considerations about what kind of development would best benefit downtown and the larger community. City officials will also consider each developer’s track record and ability to complete their propose projects.

Developer Guy D’Amico, who offered $660,000, proposes to create a boutique distillery and tasting bar.

Ross Power, who offered $625,000, envisions a space to showcase arts, hold cultural events, antique fairs and international independent film festivals. Power’s plans also include a gourmet café.

Like D’Amico, Michael Rechter, of Fort Lauderdale, is proposing to develop the site as a microbrewery and taproom, with a restaurant and beer garden.

All three proposals are available to the public for review. For more information, contact the city clerk’s office at 772-978-4700.