A plan to build a new castle as a future home for Affordable Lock & Security Solutions, was met with a less-than-enthusiastic reception from the Lady Lake Commission.
Affordable Lock & Security Solutions is looking to move across the street and one block south, along U.S. Hwy. 27/441 fronting West McClendon Street and East Lady Lake Boulevard. The business is hoping to recreate its signature medieval castle at the new location. It will be moving out of its iconic castle-like structure to make way for a new Wawa convenience store at U.S. Hwy. 27/441 and County Road 466. It is one of several structures to be bulldozed for the service station and convenience store.
“It is very important to keep our image. We have built our image around that castle,” Ken Kupferman, owner of Affordable Lock & Security Solutions, told Lady Lake Commissioners in a special meeting Monday night.
However, commissioners said the castle motif does not meet the town’s existing design standards. Four of the five commissioners indicated they could not support the recreation of the castle at the new location. The old location had been grandfathered in.
Michael Leeds, who has been spearheading the Wawa project, asked if he could be given the chance to come up with a design that incorporates the castle into one of the town’s standards.
“It took a little bit of coercing to get them to re-locate,” said Leeds.
Apparently, helping Affordable Lock & Security Solutions find a new location and retain its image was part of the deal
The commission agreed to give Leeds the opportunity to come back with a proposed design.
“I would have to see exactly what it looks like,” cautioned Commissioner Ruth Kussard.
Mayor Jim Richards pointed Leeds in the direction of the town’s Spanish colonial design.
