Future downtown parking garage may be approved Tuesday

Aerial photograph of the six parcels in question. [Photo courtesy of City documents]

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Posted January 31, 2022 | By James Blevins
james@ocalagazette.com

The Ocala City Council will be voting at its Feb. 1 regular meeting on whether to approve  a contract to purchase six parcels in Downtown Ocala from Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church for the price of $1.7 million.

According to city documents, the parcels will be a future four-floor parking garage with an estimated maximum of 159 parking spaces per floor.

The city’s “General Fund Reserve for Projects” will be the source of funds for the purchase of the parcels, according to the city. Construction funding will be addressed in the FY 2023 budget.

Located at 55 S.W. 3rd Ave., Mt. Moriah had Bassett Appraisal Services, Inc. out of St. Augustine appraise the parcels on Oct. 13, 2021 “as is” at $1,640,000.

The approximate 1.62 acres of property is located east along the right-of-way of S.W. 3rd Avenue on north and south sides of S.W. Fort King Street, in the Central Business District of Ocala.

The six parcels contain three structures: sanctuary & administration building (first built 1966); fellowship & classrooms (first built 1927); and youth/health clinic building (first built 1966).