City to purchase McLemore property

The City of Apalachicola has taken another giant step toward preserving its historic working waterfront.

At the regular June meeting, Ellen Cunningham with the Nature Conservancy appeared before the commission and requested approval for a contract to purchase, Lots 1-20 Block K, owned by Apalachicola resident Lee McLemore.

Cunningham told commissioners that she submitted the McLemore property to the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) for funding last year and that the FCT approved the purchase as a first contingent project. She went on to say that she negotiated the deal between two appraisals and that the contract was now ready to go.

Cunningham work on behalf of the City of Apalachicola as its liaison between the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) and the prospective seller. Over the years, she has secured financial support from the FCT and negotiated the purchase of nine key parcels along Apalachicola’s historic working waterfront. Under the management plan, the parcels can only be used for public access and passive recreation.

The purchase of the McLemore property is another fine example of this process, as it’s strategically located adjacent to properties already owned by the city near the Three Servicemen Statue and the Orman House.