Discussions over potential development of Advocacy Resource Center (ARC) of Marion County property continue
A vacant 16 acre parcel of land east of the current location of ARC Marion structures is shown on Southeast Maricamp Road in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. ARC seeks to change zoning on a portion of land. Fifty-six years after Marion County gave 16-acres to the Advocacy Resource Center of Marion County (ARC), the group wants to sell a part of it for commercial development. The proposal is proving easier said than done. While a rezoning decision to change the used of four acres of the property is in the hands of the Ocala City Council, a stipulation in the 1964 deal may give the Marion County Board of County Commissioners the right to take back the entire property. The original deed states that the group would use the land, located at 2800 SE Maricamp Road, for “the care, maintenance, teaching and training of mentally retarded children.” If those services were to cease for six months or more, the land would return to the county. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
At the Nov. 2, 2021, Marion County Board of Commission (MCBOCC) meeting, attorney Guy Minter gave an update to the MCBOCC on negotiations surrounding 16-acres the MCBOCC transferred to the Advocacy Resource Center of Marion County (ARC) 56 years ago.
The property is located at 2800 SE Maricamp Road.
A vacant 16 acre parcel of land east of the current location of ARC Marion structures is shown on Southeast Maricamp Road in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. ARC seeks to change zoning on a portion of land. Fifty-six years after Marion County gave 16-acres to the Advocacy Resource Center of Marion County (ARC), the group wants to sell a part of it for commercial development. The proposal is proving easier said than done. While a rezoning decision to change the used of four acres of the property is in the hands of the Ocala City Council, a stipulation in the 1964 deal may give the Marion County Board of County Commissioners the right to take back the entire property. The original deed states that the group would use the land, located at 2800 SE Maricamp Road, for “the care, maintenance, teaching and training of mentally retarded children.” If those services were to cease for six months or more, the land would return to the county. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
ARC had a potential buyer for the real estate if its use could be approved for commercial development.
When the property was originally transferred to ARC from the county, the original deed indicated the property was to be used for the care, maintenance, teaching, and training of the developmentally disabled. In the event that those services were to cease for six months or more, the land would return to the county.
The MCOBCC has indicated at previous meetings that it would consider releasing ARC from that original clawback provision; however, according to Minter, ARC had received loans through the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) administered by the Marion County Community Services that continued as liens on the property. The liens would need to be satisfied before the property could be transferred to another owner.
After discussion, the MCBOCC indicated the loans would need to be satisfied at the time of sale.
Fred Roberts Jr. a lawyer representing ARC, said, “nothing is set in stone yet,” regarding any potential deal to sell a portion of the property.
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