Last Updated: 2:49 p.m.
Flagler County’s tourism bureau is in discussions to buy a corner lot on State Road A1A and South 9th Street in Flagler Beach for a future visitor center.
The 0.37-acre lot, owned by Coastal Cloud Properties, a sister of the Hammock-based tech company, is listed at $1.5 million. “Conversations have been very positive with the seller’s agent, and so we feel good about working with them,” County Tourism Director Amy Lukasik told the Tourist Development Council this morning.
Coastal Cloud bought the property, along with an adjoining lot, in 2013 for $437,500 around the time when it launched its operation in Flagler, which has since grown well beyond its initial projections. Its role in this case though would be limited to that of seller.
The transaction would be recommended by the tourism board but approved by the County Commission, and presumably paid for with tourism dollars, which are generated by a sales surtax imposed on motel, hotel, short-term rental and other temporary accommodation stays, so local general fund dollars mostly drawn from property taxes would not be involved. Lukasik also mentioned grants.
The county’s tourism bureau has been on the hunt for a visitor center for two years. In July 2020 the tourism office was interested in buying the old Bank of America building on State Road A1A, opposite the pier, when the 6,600-square-foot building was listed at $1.1 million (and sold for $1 million in January 2021). The building was 41 years old at the time and would have required considerable renovations. The bank was also demanding a closed-bid process with a very brief window. It was not doable, “definitely not in government,” Lukasik said.
At the time, Lukasik spoke of the visitor’s center as also the future headquarters of the tourism bureau, which now has its offices in a rather drabbish, out of the way building on the grounds of the county airport off State Road 100–an office building ideal for many uses, but incongruous with a tourism office that depends on visibility and at least some geographic flash. The old bank building–an architectural hulk more suggestive of brutalist holding cells than sunny tourism offices–checked off at least one of those boxes.
But Dave Sullivan, the county commissioners who chairs the tourism council, was displeased about the bank-building proposal becoming public in the thick of his own re-election campaign, and so soon after the county had unloaded two other buildings it had bought only to then sell again after concluding it could not occupy them or re-occupy them (the previous Sheriff’s Operations Center off State Road 100 and the now-former Sears Building on Palm Coast Parkway, subsequently acquired by a religious organization.) “Buying old buildings is not one of my favorite things to do as a commissioner right now in the county,” Sullivan said at the time.
He spoke a different tune today. “We’re running out of possibilities. And this will be one soon,” Sullivan said. If the county had poor luck with “old buildings” in the past, the signal difference in this case is that the parcels are vacant. Construction would be the county’s responsibility, though that will add substantial cost at a time when construction costs are rising as fast as roofs.
“Obviously living and actually working in representing Flagler Beach,” Ken Bryan, the Flagler Beach city commissioner who sits on the TDC, said, “it’s a great opportunity because as a commission we too have been looking around at properties because of future plans for parking. And things of this nature and the lots are drying up very quickly. I think it’s a great opportunity to not only the city to actually be in discussion with future partnerships or whatever we may be in to do in order to make this happen.” He said the commission has been focusing on making Flagler Beach a more walkable city, especially because parking is becoming more scarce.
“We really needed to be in Flagler Beach,” especially on the south side of Flagler Beach, Lukasik said. “We’ve been very busy behind the scenes, we have a stack in our office of all the research we’ve been doing. But we knew that we had to be in a position to be able to act quickly if an opportunity presented itself.” Lukasik did not mention to the TDC members the listed price of the property when she discussed it.
To Lukasik, the expected construction of the new hotel downtown, next to Veterans Park and in place of the farmer’s market–where the Flagler Beach hotel used to stand until the early 1970s–has been another incentive to push the visitor’s center idea. “With the hotel,” she said, “I get the visual like I feel like I’m on a horse going really fast with the pole with the flag and you got to find your land to claim,” she said.
A council member wondered about whether the location has foot traffic there. Lukasik said the property is at the tail end of the boardwalk, enabling the location to “funnel” visitors into Flagler Beach businesses. “I used to live behind there,” Council member Lisa Robinson said, “so you absolutely can walk down to everything. It’s not far”
“We felt a very strong sense of urgency and we buckled down and said okay, now’s the time we need to secure a location,” Lukasik said.
The county has to secure two appraisals and an environmental impact study. The county would then secure an option on the property, giving the county time to do its due diligence on the property.
Sullivan polled every member of the council and got a unanimous consensus to move forward with the due diligence–getting the appraisals and executing the option agreement.
Since Coastal Cloud Properties has owned it, the company has paid $64,000 in county, city and school property taxes, averaging well over $8,000 a year in the last four years as the property has appreciated significantly. That revenue would be eliminated once a government concern acquires the property, though the tourism bureau’s aim is to generate tourism-tax and other sales tax revenue through higher visitor counts, presumably netting a higher return.
Eric Cooley, chairman of the Flagler Beach City Commission, reacted differently when he learned of the proposal this afternoon.
“To put it deep in the center of town on 9th street, it didn’t make any sense to me, and just from a financial point of view, it seems very excessive,” Cooley said, stressing he was not speaking for the commission. “There’s really no reason to have an oceanfront visitor center. Then you’re adding a government property owned by the citizens, you’re putting it right on the ocean, the ocean rising, and you’re exposing it to the hurricanes. It seems more of a potential emotional decision than a business-minded decision.”
Cooley said a victor center is better situated on the south side of State Road 100 on the approach of Flagler Beach, west of the bridge.
Jimbo99 says
Well, at least they aren’t buying another moldy 41 year old Bank Building ? As long as the Tourism Taxes pay for it with enough left over to continue to pay for everything that piggy backs off the tourism tax. My gut feel is that the pier being rebuilt into concrete, the new Hotel Resort on FL-100, Then there’s going to be more construction for dune rebuilding. The Flagler Beach area should improve in those spots. I just have reservations about building a government tourist center when a web page is really about all that’s needed for anyone interested in Flagler as a tourist destination.
Here’s an idea, perhaps a tourist booth as part of the new pier instead. I mean there’s a restaurant, lifeguard center, bait & tackle & the radio station with public restrooms there now. I assume the new pier build would have those existing businesses at least, that a tourism center could be additional ? On .37 acre (that’s basically 80×125, I would think the Tourism Center itself wouldn’t conceptually be a larger building, but rather a small building with mostly parking to accommodate peak traffic. 904 S Ocean Shore Blvd is 1/2 a mile form FL 100, walking distance unless someone gets caught in a Summer thunder storm. What re we doing at the tourism welcome center ? Giving away brochures with area attraction coupons, free orange juice & cookies, selling cheap & cheesy Flagler Beach t-shirts or bumper stickers that Wal-Mart & Target already sell ?
C.J. says
Wow, this makes sense NOT! Nice to know Flagler Beach has so much money to throw away…must be better ways to spend that kind of money…parking lot maybe?
Jimbo99 says
How about some of these as alternative concept(s), a Tourist Welcome Center incorporated as part of a revamped Flagler Beach Library location ? The park area where the library is under utilized as it is, land already owned & plenty of parking already available.
Or as a part of the Flagler Beach City Hall, Chambers & Historical Museum ? As part of the Historical Museum, that gets more foot traffic & exposure ? Considerably closer walking distances to the new Hotel being built at FL-100. Otherwise, is there a potential for a shuttle service to & from using electric golf carts.
3 Alternatives including a concrete pier as a booth facility of sorts instead of buying land & constructing a new facility, that allows the 9th Street South location to be developed residential or commercial instead of a government owned & maintained facility ? What is the proposed size of the new Welcome Center concept ?
Might be too late or counter to the new Hotel on FL-100, but a Welcome Center inside of it might be a lease with the Hotel group that bought the land & are developing it.
FlaglerLive says
Flagler Beach government is not involved in this proposal.
Gerald says
Any new development is a serious mistake on a1a due to the beach erosion. Not a place to invest your $$.
palmcoaster says
.37 acre 1.5 million? Too expensive and too small no room for parking on an already crowded ocean front! Waste of money and overpriced. Will be a repeat story of the Palm Coast community center and now they want to raze the much used by the granfaterin much used by youth basketball court and the children green area park like playground for addition parking lot! NO! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFB-d-8_bvY&list=RDGFB-d-8_bvY&start_radio=1
That location on A1A for a tourism center exposed to hurricanes damage? NO.
Denise Calderwood says
It’s nice to know that the Tourism Dept is sitting on a lot of money….why rush into buying this lot and removing $64,000 of county tax dollars away and now we’re helping out Coastal Cloud and giving them an $800,000 profit! How ridiculous. Wake up…. stop buying and selling properties…. A website works well and placing kiosks at existing places works better and it is a much cheaper alternative. Why can’ the tourist office have a spot at the new multi Purpose Bunnell Library or have it at the Airport or at the Flagler County Association of Realtors building….No need to buy vacant land!
Jimbo99 says
Most residential has .25 acre lots, so this building can’t be anything more than a a 3/2 house for maybe 3-4 cars of parking. They’re going to want to landscape it with tropical trees. Look at the dividers on A1A, overgrown and not maintained as they are already. Anyone does that with their swale or yard and that an ordinance violation in Palm Coast. So the government isn’t living by the golden rules anyone else has to abide by. And while it may draw traffic down to 9th Street S, are those that live there going to be thrilled that automobile traffic is ramping up on A1A or 9th Street S ?
Worst part about this is buying property when the pandemic inflation on property is at the highest. I think once they realize unaffordable real estate isn’t sustainable that land could be had for much cheaper really. I guess Flagler wants to have it’s own gift shop & coupon shop out there on A1A ? I wonder how much traffic they really expect to go thru the Welcome Center ? What projections are for that. Maybe visitors/tourists have inquired about why there isn’t one. It doesn’t take long to get bored in Flagler Beach really. The intracoastal Parks are pretty much under utilized. I figure tourists probably use the beach access or the pools or they leave Flagler Beach for Ormond/Daytona, as well as Marineland/Matanzas Inlet/St Augustine. The North end has Washington Park, the Landing, South end has the Snack Jack’s, Tomoka Loop (Volusia county) & the Park down at that end that is still officially in Flagler county & maybe FB city limits ?
The pandemic wiped out so many businesses, where Hidden Treasure was operating seems to be more of a priority. The best seafood restaurant in the county pretty much went under there with the pandemic. The location is outstanding. I can’t imagine why another seafood restaurant isn’t up & running there at this point.
Peter Gladsy says
Oh yeah this has success written all over it. After the county purchases the parcel and as we all know will remain vacant for years due to a avalanche of reasons not to be a “tourist” in Flagler Beach. One could only wonder which local DEVELOPER will be able to purchase the property for below market value so the county like all the other buildings & vacant lots it buys at high prices will be able to “recoup” it’s losses and move on ?
Flatsflyer says
Hopefully the same Realtor that was involved the previous disasters with the county is not involved in this transaction.
Leila says
Agree with Mr. Cooley on this one. That location would attract traffic coming off I95. If you’re going to do something like this, it must be in a spot like this. Either that, or contract with a business entity like motels, Publix, CVS or Walgreens to showcase information.
As long as we are having beach replenishment issues, it is too soon to be doing something like this, unless Flagler businesses want to pay for it.
Judging from increased traffic and housing shortages here, doesn’t look to me like this area needs any more promotion right now.
Hmmm says
What is this visitor center going to offer? If you made it to the visitor center, you’ve already seen everything flagler beach has to offer. Dont be like palm coast, where it seems buildings are going up just to fill space.
Unnessesary says
I agree 100% with Jimbo99, was about to type same stuff until I read his comments. Who goes to a visitor center anymore? Just get up the website on your phone. There must be a place you can install a small kiosk with discounted Disney/Universal/Wet n’ Wild coupons elsewhere for a lot less than $1.5M (I agree the pier would be a perfect place to incorporate this). Someone is about to get their Palm heavily greased with a hefty Coastal Cloud kickback under the table.
The dude says
This tax money we’re talking about???
We don’t have enough tourists coming to the area already?
$1.5m would go a long way towards getting those school buses to run on time.
Just sayin’…
Bartholomew says
I agree $1.5 million 1/3 acre. Why does it HAVE to be on the south side of Flagler Beach. That location makes no sense and the price makes no sense and the size of property makes no sense. What do the expect one person at a time there??
BMW says
It’s amazing how many people are skilled in the art of reinvesting tourism dollars and determining the needs of the organization responsible for driving tourism to Flagler County. With so many skilled people, ‘Why do we need a tourism board at all?”
Insert meme of me scratching my head and rolling my eyes.
Cranium says
We have tourism in Flagler? Coulda fooled me. No one even uses welcome centers anymore
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Another insane purchase by a Flagler County agency.
G A says
Another bad bad bad idea by our county commissioners. No surprise really folks! You get what you voted in. I am with the other commenters here on this story (not that the county commission seems to give one whit what any of us thinks.) It would make 100% more sense to put up a tourism building on Rt 100 near Colbert.
Linda Hagman says
As one of the future “next door neighbors” of this proposed “tourist center”, I would like to remind the commissioners that this would be located not in the tourist part of Flagler Beach but in the heart of a residential area. It does not make sense. If memory serves correctly, Coastal was unable to build an office on this same lot due to it’s very small size… not enough parking. Would be far wiser to allow them to replot the property (as our builder did in 1990) to allow two homes (or one by binding the lots) to be built behind the coastal setback line. It would serve far better to place a tourist center as Commissioner Cooley suggests near the pier. (By the way, when we built our home in 1990, there was a home located on that lot and it was zoned commercial/residential….the home was blown away by a micro burst –one of the many perils living on A1A)
Marcel J Robert says
well BMW if you’ve been reading comments sounds like “We the People” really doesn’t want a “Government Agency ” on prime Oceanfront Property. So lets just discount “We the Peoples” Input by claiming their not qualified to have any say. I would also like to comment on the Tourism Bureau decision to call they’re location Drabbish and out of the way.. While its located on the fastest growing intersection in the county. on the fastest growing hiway in the county to move to A1A within site of a Bar with a reputation of instability and a DRABBISH Closed Down Motel which BTW is for sale for 200k less. Surely no backroom dealing going on here..
Ron says
You are correct. What a waste of money !
Ron says
Flagler beach needs to fight this ridiculous proposal.
Flatsflyer says
Can’t put it on RT 100 or Colbert unless it’s made to look line another mini storage facility, then it would be approved overnight!
Marsha Rodriguez says
The realtor is t the problem, everyone always forgets about the county employee who inspected and recommended these properties for purchase. I believe he is now the Chief of Facilities Michael Dickson.
Amazing only in Flagler County can you be involved in 3 different scandals and still progress up the county ladder.