A key piece of property in the redevelopment of the Lakeland Gateway area is one step closer to belonging to the city.

The Lakeland Board of Commissioners held a special-called meeting Monday, July 17, and approved two resolutions to take possession of the Econo Lodge at 9822 Huff N Puff Road and acquire other nearby property. The land is earmarked for a new $17 million to $18 million YMCA community and athletic center.

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“We’re halfway to where we want to be, if that,” Mayor Josh Roman said.

Following the creation of a Lakeland Gateway TIF (Tax Increment Financing) district north of Interstate 40 and the Canada Road interchange earlier this year, the board in May began redevelopment of the Gateway area.

The first moves included authorizing condemnation of the Econo Lodge and beginning negotiations to acquire other pieces of land leading to the right-of-way for the interchange, including the Relax Inn at 3645 Canada Road.

“This resolution resolves the majority of the condemnation proceedings we started...in May for the Econo Lodge property,” City Attorney Will Patterson said.

Patterson noted that the city court mediated the condemnation case June 28, reaching the tentative resolution to take possession of the hotel Sept. 1.

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In May, the city filed a petition seeking possession of the property, offering owner Quantum Hotels an appraised fair market value of $2.25 million. Since then, an additional 1.8 acres was identified and appraised at $375,000, bringing the total the city is putting in on the property at this time to $2.625 million.

“(Quantum Hotels) are still objecting to the total compensation or the valuation put forward by our appraisal and our appraiser,” Patterson said.

The city will now deposit the additional funds with the county clerk as determined by its appraiser, and the case will continue until a just compensation is determined by the court.

After taking possession of the hotel, the city plans to move quickly to have it demolished, removing what many consider to have been a hotbed for crime in recent years.

Commissioner Connie McCarter cast the sole vote against the resolution, saying she would like to see a survey of the properties.

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“To be honest, I can’t vote for this ... if we don’t have something to protect us to ensure what we are buying. I feel very uncomfortable about that,” she said. “We are spending the people’s money. This is not our money. I just think that we need to be a little more cautious with this, especially in light of what we just saw with our first appraisal missing some acreage.”

The board also voted 3-1 in favor of purchasing an additional 1-acre parcel between the Refuge Church and the Super 8 motel on Huff N Puff for $500,000. The vacant land is being used as a semi tractor trailer parking lot.

‘We will take possession of the vacant lot between Super 8 and the church, and we will shut down the semi tractor trailer parking,” Roman said. “Huge win tonight.”