- March 28, 2024
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Hillsborough buys 1,700 acres for conservation
BUYER: Hillsborough County, Tampa
SELLER: Kay O'Rourke
PROPERTY: north of Tarpon Springs Road in northwest Hillsborough County near Brooker Creek Preserve and the Lake Dan property next to the Pasco County line.
PRICE: $20.14 million
TITLE FIRM ON DEED: Fuentes & Kreischer Title Co., Tampa
PLANS, DESCRIPTION: Hillsborough County government purchased 1,673 acres of cattle ranch and undeveloped land in northwest Hillsborough known as the Brooker Creek Corridor for $20.14 million.
The purchase price equated to $12,039 per acre. The property was purchased as environmentally sensitive land to add to the Brooker Creek Preserve, which now totals more than 10,000 acres, stretching through Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
The larger preserve is expected to provide more room for animal habitat and further protection for the water supply.
The county expects to pay for much of the purchase through the sale of environmental-land acquisition bonds.
“It has been an approved [Environmental Land Acquisition and Protection Program] site for many years,” says Peggy Hamric, technical services manager for the Real Estate Department of Hillsborough County.
“We attempted to negotiate a purchase 10 years ago. It's a voluntary program that the property owner wanted to participate in,” Hamric says. “We were not able to come to an arrangement at that time. In early 2009, we were contacted by the owner's representative indicating they might be willing to reopen the discussion.”
The value of the deal makes it the largest ELAPP purchase.