HOLMES BEACH – The owners of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church property did not accept the city’s $3 million offer to purchase the church building and property at 6608 Marina Drive.
On June 25, Taylor Rahdert, the real estate agent representing the property owners, sent Holmes Beach Director of Development Services Chad Minor an email that said, “The Florida Bahamas Synod Council has reviewed the letter of intent regarding the purchase of Gloria Dei and property. The council has a fiduciary respon sibility to sell the property based on the appraisal that represents the value at its best usage. The council is open to further negotiation based on the appraised value of $9.9 million. Thank you for your consideration.”
The property owners’ $9.9 million asking price is based on the appraisal they received that assumes the property will be rezoned for retail or commercial development, which would require city commission approval.
On May 27, the commission authorized Titsworth to offer the Synod Council $3 million and engage in further negotiations if needed, with the caveat that a higher negotiated purchase price would require city commission approval.
After receiving a copy of Rahdert’s email, Mayor Judy Titsworth asked City Clerk Stacey Johnston to send it to the city commissioners.
“Unfortunately, I do not see a path forward on an acquisition at this time,” Titsworth stated in her email.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore wrote, “Knew this would happen.”
During recent commission discussions, Whitmore expressed doubts that the property owners would accept an offer that was significantly lower than the $9.9 million appraised value.
The city’s $3 million offer was based on the two valuation appraisals the city recently received. The city’s $2.1 million and $2.77 million appraisals assumed the church building and property would retain the existing Public/Semi-Public (PSP) zoning and future land use designations that do not allow for residential or commercial development.
According to the city’s land development code, “The PSP zoning district is consistent and compatible with, and is intended to implement, the public/semi-public land use category set forth in the comprehensive plan. This district is intended to implement the public/semi-public land use category by recognizing identifiable areas of the community that support public, municipal and semi-public centers, community services and facilities including churches and schools, both public and private.”
City officials hoped to use the church building and property for public purposes beneficial to city residents. The potential uses include providing space inside the church building for non-profit groups, charitable organizations, art groups and the School for Constructive Play preschool that was displaced from the church building by the 2024 hurricanes. The potential outdoor uses include a children’s playground, park space, green space, outdoor market space and more.
Built on a 3-acre property in 1960, the triangular-shaped church building was designed by renowned Sarasota architect Victor Lundy. Church operations ceased in January, due in part to a shrinking congregation. During a recent commission meeting, city resident Gale Tedhams noted the iconic and recognizable church building would likely be demolished if purchased by a developer.
Rahdert’s email was received the day after the June 24 commission meeting and the mayor and commissioners have not yet publicly discussed the declined offer. The commission meets on Tuesday, July 8 at 2 p.m. to discuss the 2025-26 city budget.
Rezoning challenges
If the church building and property are purchased with the PSP zoning and future land use designations still in place, the use of the property would remain restricted to what’s currently allowed by city code, unless the property is rezoned. The current owners could also try to rezone the property before selling it.
In 2016, city commissioners denied a comprehensive plan amendment sought by church officials who wanted to change the future land use designation to R-2 (two-family residential) for the two undeveloped parcels and rezone those parcels in the same manner. Church officials hoped to sell the rezoned parcels for development and use the sale proceeds to fund the continued church operations. In 2018, city officials discussed purchasing the undeveloped portions of the church property but not the church building, but that sale never transpired. During recent discussions, neither the mayor nor any of the commissioners have expressed support for rezoning the property.
When contacted by The Sun on June 26, Minor said it would take the support of the commission majority (at least three members) to rezone the church property and/or amend the future land use designation for residential development. When asked if the church property could be rezoned for commercial development, Minor said that would be more difficult because the church property is surrounded by residentially-zoned properties.
The surrounding properties on the same side of Marina Drive as the church are zoned R-1 (single-family residential) and the properties on the other side of Marina Drive are zoned R-2. According to city code, properties zoned R-1 can be used for vacation rentals with a 30-day minimum stay and properties zoned R-2 can be rented on a weekly basis.
Related coverage:
City to make offer on Gloria Dei property
