Fruitland Park commissioners have a thorny item on their agenda Thursday night at City Hall: the controversial 100-year old Casino Community Center building.
The cracker-style meeting hall, built in 1915, is a rare example of a public building designed in the vernacular style, according to architectural historian Ron Haase, Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida School of Architecture.
Three months ago the Fruitland Park Historical Society applied to place The Casino on the National Register of Historical Places. Earlier this month the Florida Historical Commission approved the nomination. The Keeper of the Register—an official at the U.S. Parks Department—has until the end of July to okay the state’s request.
But city officials want to build a new library on the Casino site, along with a park and—eventually—expanded facilities for police and fire departments.
Called “City Center,” the long-term project already has more than $500,000 in funding from Lake County’s library impact fees. Under the plan the city’s current 7,000-square foot library, a 15-year old facility, would be repurposed as the city’s Community Center.
Located adjacent to the city swimming pool, picnic pavilion, skate park, handball courts and Recreation Department offices, a community center building is the perfect use, city officials say.
The city needs a bigger, better library facility. Some 4,000 new city residents will be moving in this year in the Villages of Fruitland Park, doubling the city’s population. And while typical Villages residents use library facilities at disproportionately high rates, younger families the city hopes to attract to other residential developments use library facilities even more. Kids programs are among the most popular.
The demise of a sacred architectural relic to build a facility for newcomers is hard one for local residents to swallow. Commissioners understand that too, but…
The Casino stands square in the way of the City Center project. While new Villages residents in the city might have little need for a 100-year old relic of the city’s past, many city residents have fond memories of the big red building.
Moreover, local historians claim they have evidence that property deeds donating the building for public use stipulate that unless those restrictions are followed, the property and building are to revert back to the descendents of the previous owners.
Those deeds, posted online, seem to back up their claims.
And according to archived newspaper articles, The Casino is where the City of Fruitland Park was born.
The whole thing started in turmoil.
In January, 1922, the Fruitland Park Improvement Association called for a meeting in The Casino to discuss incorporating the city.
It was a tumultuous affair. Wealthy winter residents were afraid to hand municipal taxing authority to year-round locals who might be more interested in public facilities, street lights and a police department than property tax rates.
At a followup meeting a month later, so-called “agitators” called for a vote, but winter residents succeeded in forcing a year-long delay. Three years later, after prolonged arm-twisting, button-holing and wheeler-dealing, pro-incorporation folks called an emergency meeting.
More than 100 supporters filled the Casino and voted unanimously to incorporate as the City of Fruitland Park. They elected a mayor, seven commissioners and a constable. Done deal.
Tonight, commissioners will take up the Casino issue again. City Manager Gary La Venia said the demolition option is off the table, but the city has invested too much cash in its City Center project to back down now, and everyone’s looking for a suitable compromise.
They don’t expect 100 residents this time around, but the Casino has always attracted its share of controversy, so who knows? The commission meeting begins at 7 p.m. The Casino is item 5e on the agenda.
