Harbor parking hits a snag: Seller doesn't show at closing

Representatives of the Clancy Company failed to show up Friday to close on the sale of 2.12 acres of U.S. 98 property in Destin to the city, City Manager Greg Kisela says.

“Our position is, we’ve got an enforceable contract they did not perform,” Kisela told The Log. “We will give a briefing to the City Council Monday and seek policy direction.”

Destin has been negotiating since early 2008 to buy the lot, one of three harbor districts sites on which the city plans to build parking garages to provide more parking at the city’s west end. While the city can’t afford to build a garage immediately, the Clancy land could at least serve as a parking lot until more money is available.

Kisela told the council May 18 that although the Clancy family requested $4 million, the city had to base its offer — $3.125 million — on the appraisals it received. He said company vice president Laura Clancy had signed a contract, which required only the council’s approval.

Michael Clancy, however, asked the council that night to remove the topic from the agenda and meet with him later “so we don't end up in a litigious situation.”

A letter from company attorney John Dowd Jr. said the company objected to the city using front men to begin negotiating, rather than openly acknowledging its interest. Company president Sean Clancy also told The Log that he objected to Kisela negotiating with Laura Clancy without Sean’s go-ahead.

The land includes several small cottages at 222 Mountain Drive — including an alleged crack house police raided in 2007 — and commercial lots at 285 and 299 Harbor Boulevard. 285 was the former office of the Dowd Title Group and 299, now unoccupied, was formerly the tattoo studio Destin Ink.

The Log contacted Dowd, but had not received a response by press time.

In other business at the July 6th meeting, councilors also discuss the Norriego Point stabilization project feasibility study as well as a plan to offer a one-year extension on lapsing development orders.

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The Destin City Council will meet 6 p.m. Monday at the City Hall Annex. Fraser Sherman will offer live updates from the meeting and post breaking news at thedestinlog.com.