The city has come back with its price on the Capital City Country Club, and the paperwork has been drawn up for a quick sale.
A month ago, the club wrote a letter asking the city to end its long-term lease and sell the property to the club so it can pull itself out of financial straits. The club paid for an appraisal that valued the land at $1.15 million. The city’s recent appraisal came in at about the same and valued the land at $1.25 million, according to a city staff analysis.
The property has been operated by the country club for nearly 70 years under a $1-a-year operating lease with the City of Tallahassee.
“At the city commission’s direction, staff have prepared a purchase and sale agreement and additional transaction documents restricting the deed and establishing easements and recorded agreements to preserve the use of the land as a golf course and protect the public access to the cemetery and memorial site in perpetuity,” agenda materials say.
In a familiar 3-2 vote on Sept. 17, commissioners voted to seek their own appraisal and prepare a proposal to sell the land to the Capital City Country Club.
It came as advocates criticized the city and country club for failing to memorialize the graves of dozens of unmarked graves of those believed to be Black slaves. City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, who is running for mayor, also blasted the golf club’s appraisal as a lowball offer and part of a “fire sale” trend of public assets.
The commission is set to meet again on the topic Wednesday, Oct. 22, and leaders could vote to sell the golf course then and there. But it could come down to who offers their support for the new ownership.
City manager says deal would block development in multiple ways
The Capital City Golf Course is one of the oldest courses in the state. It’s located in the Myers Park neighborhood, just south of the state capital.
And the neighborhood, among others, has expressed concerns.
Numerous residents and neighborhood associations have spoken out against the sale in fear of condos and homes popping up along the periphery of the club.
Club leadership has promised that the property will continue to be used as a golf course and has no interest in converting the land.
“This is not about creating a development opportunity,” Fred Baggett, chair of the Capital City Country Club board, wrote in an opinion article published in the Tallahassee Democrat. It is about sustaining one of Florida’s oldest golf courses under challenging conditions.
And the proposed purchase and sale agreement has multiple safeguards to ensure the club does exactly that, according to city officials.
City Manager Reese Goad told the Democrat that a deed restriction is included that says the club has to “perpetually operate” the land as an 18-hole golf course. Other conditions include a zoning change that would block development and a deed reservation that says the city commission has to approve a sale if the club were ever to put the property on the market.
Familiar battle lines take shape as city looks to finally memorialize graves
During last month’s meeting, there was split support for the sale among the commission. Matlow and Jack Porter voted against moving forward with seeking an appraisal, citing concerns over the missing memorials and questions about the club’s financial solvency.
City Commissioner Curtis Richardson supported getting an appraisal, but he said he couldn’t support turning the property over without more information.
Mayor John Dailey and City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox said they supported selling the property to the club so long as the country club agree to not develop the golf course, and Dailey emphasized that the cemetery needs to be preserved.
A 2021 article in the Tallahassee Democrat unveiled the vision for the memorial with City Parks and Recreation Director Ashley Edwards saying construction was to be completed by the fall of that year. But almost four years later, there has been little movement.
City officials have said the plans never happened because of the COVID pandemic, the May 2024 tornado outbreak that downed trees at the club and what Williams-Cox called a debate over “semantics” and the wording that would be used on the memorials.
The agenda says the proceeds from the proposed sale will be used by the city for the “implementation of the commemorative burial site,” which is estimated at $98,000. The remainder of the proceeds will be deposited into the deficiencies reserve fund per city policy.
FAMU, Capital City Country Club enter into agreement
While the thought of selling the public golf course has caused heartburn for some, Florida A&M University has offered its “enthusiastic support” in a letter to the city from Deveron Gibbons, chair of the FAMU Board of Trustees.
The club and university have entered into memorandum of understanding that gives FAMU a more dynamic role in the golf course. The club agreed to:
Host collegiate golf competitions for FAMU upon the completion of needed course improvements necessary for required championship quality conditions.Make its newly renovated course available to the FAMU Golf Team for practice opportunities.Help host events and fundraisers that will benefit the larger FAMU student body.
In return, FAMU agreed to collaborate with the Country Club on events and programs for the betterment of the City of Tallahassee and local community, according to agenda materials.
“This is a historic matter for our university and city,” Gibbons wrote. “We sincerely hope to have your unanimous support to sell the land, end the 1954 lease and allow FAMU to play an important role in the Country Club’s future. Go Rattlers.”
Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.
