Controversial 'Rose Garden' Property Now For Sale

Posted by Publisher on
Fairhope, Alabama

Updated for clarity: This is Single Tax Corp. land, leased to its "owner" for 99 years.

For sale in 2020


2017 condo proposal rejected.

CONDOS REJECTED IN 2017

A small parcel of private property at the base of the bluff adjacent the rose garden is now for sale for $795K, according to signs posted there. (This is Single Tax Corp. land, leased to for 99 years.)

In September of 2017, owner (lessee) Bob Pope unsuccessfully sought variances/permission from the Board of Adjustments that would have allowed construction of a three story condominium building there; a subsequent lawsuit to overturn their decision failed as well.

The 'Down By the Bay' restaurant leased the property for several years before; Pope operated the Yardarm restaurant on the pier for several decades.

 Neighborhood resident John Manelos spoke against the project then; he suggested Pope consider "donating" the property to the city instead. (Manelos is currently a candidate for mayor.)

Comments

Anonymous said…
The price is asking is ridiculous.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Anonymous said…
What a dump! A real eyesore.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Anonymous said…
It appears that Mr. Pope purchased this property legitimately regardless of its location so he should be able to sell the property if the city will not allow him to develop it. Maybe Mr. Pope has children or grandchildren he wishes to leave money to in the future so why give up something of value. I don't understand why Mayoral Candidate John Manelos would ask someone to give/donate their property to the City of Fairhope. Who in their right mind would ask someone to give up something of value for free? I also read somewhere that John Manelos wants people not to be able to replace what he (Manelos) deems to be small cottages on their own property with more modern, larger energy efficient homes. I believe his reasoning was that doing so takes away from the Fairhope Charm. Who put Mr. Manelos in charge of the Fairhope Charm Department.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Joe Mizell said…
Maybe turn it over to the Baldwin county school district to be converted into a local meeting room or a learning center for our children?
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Anonymous said…
Was the property where the clock sits donated to the city? Not! City governments spent Over $500K

Comment: Dump, real eyesore.
So is the old bay market building at the end of pier street but yet the city is allowing a new large multiple story building to be built there. Why not allow this property to be developed

Comment: Price is ridiculous.
Are you kidding me! Look at my first line and tell me that wasn't a ridiculous price. This property sits at the highest traffic area in Fairhope.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Anonymous said…
City won't let him build a three storey building that would block the view from top of the bluff. wise decision!
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Anonymous said…
Silly to ask him to give property to city. For once they stopped overdevelopment. Goofy price to ask. Just how large is the property ?
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Publisher said…
This is Single Tax Corp. land, leased to the building's owner for 99 years in the usual fashion.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Anonymous said…
Please do not let greedy developers destroy our town.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Anonymous said…
If Mr. Pope is only the lessee, how is he able to sell this property? He has the right to build there as long as zoning requirements are met, but I don't understand how he could be the seller and recipient of the proceeds.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Publisher said…
That is the way the Single Tax Corporation operates; all of its 99 year leases are transferable. Improvements on the property, such as buildings, belong to the lessee.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
trumancapote said…
From that City council meeting in which John Manelos asked that the Council not approve 3 story condos there, I never got the impression that he was requesting that Pope give the property/lease away; I got the impression that Pope and Manelos were friends, but that Manelos believed that this was a ridiculous ask. If he had not been at that meeting, I have no doubt that we would have a huge condo blocking the view from the bluff. Just think.......if Sherry Sullivan is elected, what massive apartment complex may we find in the triangle property that has only been blocked from development by Mayor Wilson and other astute citizens. The City Council tried to 'slip it in' during a lull........Sherry Sullivan is being financed, from what I hear, to shove that land shift through. Once again, screwing over the taxpayer of Fairhope and very much enriching (from word on the street) the three B's!
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Anonymous said…
The 3 story condo idea was never going to be approved. This is a post trying to uplift the mayor and downgrade Sullivan and the Council. If the mayor approved of this post then she is disingenuous. Frankly only one mayoral candidate is using negative campaigning. An incumbent should be able to tout their record and not ascribe hypothetical bad behavior to first time candidates.
Thursday, August 20, 2020
John Manelos said…
This property was purchased by Bob Pope and operated for years as a small restaurant. Now, through no fault of his own, he is unable to utilize this property the way he would like, because of setback requirements. This property is the only remaining commercial property in the waterfront park, other than the now closed restaurant on the Pier. I made a presentation to Fairhope’s Board of Adjustment and Appeals in opposition to the planned commercial development of this property because it would have significantly impacted the facing to the North bluff. If you will recall the history of the waterfront park, most of this land was donated to the City by Fairhope Single Tax for a park. During my presentation I made the comment that one solution, not the only one, would be for this parcel to be donated to the City. That’s Mr. Pope’s business, not mine. I have suggested to our elected City leaders that the best solution is to offer to purchase this parcel from Mr. Pope at fair market value. It could then be restored to green-space and thus the entire waterfront park, would be just that, a park. Recently, the City along with Fairhope Single Tax, purchased the Fairhope clock corner for $500k. Seems like there is a possible solution here. As Fairhope continues to grow, along with commercial development, we should look for every opportunity to preserve our diminishing greenspace.
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Anonymous said…
Thank you, Mr. Manelos, for chiming in. I wasn't at the meeting in question, so I appreciate the clarification. Based on the conversations I've had with you over the years, the article seemed to be missing some context.
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Anonymous said…
My,my how things turned around in the mayor’s race. I thought Mr Manelos was odd “man” out against the bitter ladies’ death match.
Folks I chat with say Karin is third now and her supporters will vote only one way in the runoff. Go to the polls and get ready for an entertaining night.
Friday, August 21, 2020
Anonymous said…
There is no reason to purchase the restaurant property UNLESS you can purchase the Fire Departments social building next door. Don't waste tax payers money solving only half of the eyesore at the base of the bluff.
Monday, August 24, 2020
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