Manatee Performing Arts Center closes deal for parking lot land

BRADENTON -- The most common criticism of the Manatee Performing Arts Center has been the dearth of nearby parking.

The center finally closed on a $2.5 million deal Tuesday to purchase land directly across the street. If all goes according to plan, there will be 246 parking spaces on that land in about eight months. That should be more than enough to accommodate MPAC patrons.

The property includes a vacant apartment building and four duplexes that are still active rentals. A loan from the city helped MPAC close the deal within its window of opportunity.

"It was a team effort," said Janene Amick, the performing arts center executive director. "We appreciate each and every person in the city who worked diligently to make sure the sale could happen by our closing date."

The city had previously loaned a larger amount of money for construction of the center. MPAC said the loan was paid back about 10 years ahead of schedule.

Plans for the property include tearing down the vacant apartment building, with demolition beginning within the next six weeks, and leveling and paving the land. The lot will include period lighting to fit in with the lighting on the adjacent street.

The center is talking to colleges and universities around the county about starting internship programs for six

students -- four in technical theater and two in management -- and some of the duplexes could be used to house those interns. Other duplex units will probably continue to be leased to residents, Amick said.

The city is holding the mortgage on the property, and the loan is to be repaid in two years. MPAC can extend the repayment period for two more years at a higher interest rate. The city is hoping that won't be necessary.

"We don't want to become their banker," City Administrator Carl Callahan said.

From the city point of view, Callahan said the loan will help alleviate a neighborhood problem.

"We know that parking overall down there has been a problem," he said. "People parking where they're not supposed to, people not knowing where they're supposed to park."

The parking lot just to the east of the performing arts center was supposed to be for center patrons, he said. As the Riverwalk started hosting bigger events, MPAC patrons were sometimes crowded out.

"We built that for the performing arts center, but we built it before the Riverwalk became so popular," he said. "Sometimes that presented a conflict."

Once the new lot is built, the lot east of the performing arts center will be open, public parking.

The city will build a crosswalk across Third Avenue West from the parking lot to the performing arts center. Several design options are being discussed.

"It will definitely be safe and it will definitely be lit," Amick said. "I wouldn't be surprised if the crosswalk is completed before our parking lot."

The capacity of Stone Hall is 239, and the Bradenton Kiwanis Theater seats about 80. The new lot's 246 spaces should be ample, even if both theaters are in use and other events are going on in the building.

Valet parking may still be available also, even after the new lot is completed. The future of the shuttle from a nearby apartment parking garage to MPAC hasn't been decided yet, Amick said.

Marty Clear, features writer/columnist, can be reached at 941-708-7919. Follow twitter.com/martinclear.

This story was originally published May 5, 2016 at 11:17 PM with the headline "Manatee Performing Arts Center closes deal for parking lot land ."