Bradenton to buy Tropicana land after price drop

The City of Bradenton is buying more than 32 acres from Tropicana for $4.85 million, after a yearlong process of negotiations and due diligence that resulted in a $400,000 price drop.

Last May, the Bradenton City Council authorized a $5.25 million purchase of the land, which consists of two parcels off US 301 and Ninth Street East. The city plans to consolidate its public works department and solid waste operations, which are currently in two different areas, into one space there. It may also use some of the property for affordable housing.

To allow more time for due diligence, the council amended the purchase agreement in October 2024 and again in February. After hiring environmental site assessment company TerraCon to review the property, City Administrator Rob Perry said there were some findings of note.

“The environmental testing did indicate some … contaminants,” including arsenic and PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances, or long-lasting chemicals), Perry told the city council at its April 23 meeting. “It’s pretty common on that type of property,” Perry added, since Tropicana purchased the land around 1942, and it had been used for furniture manufacturing.

Because of the chemicals,“There’s some things we’re going to have to do to remediate the property,” Perry said.

“I was able to negotiate a price concession,” he said. That resulted in Tropicana lowering the price by $400,000 from the originally agreed-upon $5.25 million from May 2024.

The council unanimously approved the amendment to the purchase and sale agreement.

Closing is estimated to take place by May 15, Perry said.

After the purchase is complete, Bradenton plans to have the property designated as a brownfield and perform remediation as set forth by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, the city plans to buy a 10-year, $10 million environmental liability insurance policy, Perry said.

Having a brownfield designation will make the city eligible for federal funding to help remediate the site. The city can also craft its plans for developing the property around those areas.

To purchase the land, Bradenton is using $1.05 million from the general fund; $1.05 million from the sanitation fund; and $2.75 million from the water/sewer fund.

“It took a lot” to get the deal finalized, Mayor Gene Brown said at the April 23 meeting where the agreement was approved. “There’s a lot of opportunity there.”