City Council members squabble over a request by a prominent resident to buy back a small strip of land.
By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published May 20, 2004
OLDSMAR - Roger Kumar would love to live the rest of his life on Shore Drive without a knock on his door. The modest man who made millions from a horse-racing track and packaging company, avoids the spotlight whenever possible.
He even complains when people call his old house the Kumar mansion. It wasn't a mansion, he says. And it's no longer his.
But Tuesday, Kumar was the center of attention in a City Council circus of arguing politicians and a flying gavel. For parts of the free-for-all, Kumar could only cover his face and try to hide.
"If I could turn the clock back, I would give you all the property I have," Kumar said. "I'd walk away from this."
Today, Kumar's old home doesn't even exist. Kumar sold the waterfront residence to the city last year as the site for a new cultural arts center. But after engineers said repairs to the building, an unfinished 1920s hotel, could cost $3-million, City Council members decided to raze it instead.
In the meantime, work had already started on Kumar's new home next door. A man who has always been generous to Oldsmar - he bought the city a special edition Oldsmobile - Kumar was before a contentious City Council for the first time in 40 years Tuesday looking for a favor.
Kumar asked council members if he could buy back 2,324 square feet to act as a buffer between his new home and the city's property. He would pay $23,240 for the 10-foot-wide strip, on which he would erect a wrought-iron fence, Kumar said.
If Kumar had known his old house was going to be torn down, he said, he never would have built next door.
Now, Kumar's home is nearly finished, and the extra 10 feet is now a necessity for privacy, he said. Originally, city officials agreed to buy the entire 6.34 acres from Kumar for $2.5-million. But after Kumar asked for 0.8 acres back to build the new home, the city agreed to purchase the remaining land for $2.2-million.
"I have been a private person," Kumar, 70, said. "I have to do what I think is good for my family."
The city has no plans for the waterfront property, which was unofficially called the future cultural arts center. Some council members have suggested making it a passive park. Others might want to build a new city building. At least one has suggested that the property be sold.
But Kumar's request Tuesday sparked a heated debate between council member Janice Miller and Mayor Jerry Beverland, who have clashed recently.
Beverland, who calls Kumar a close friend, said he would support the sale of the additional land because of Kumar's civic contributions. During a several minutes-long monologue, Beverland said Kumar and his wife, Lila, have donated money for the city's fire station, gave valuable antique furniture to the city, and sold the waterfront land at a sharp discount.
"Does anyone see a pattern?" Beverland said. "(The Kumars) love this city. Look beyond that lousy 10 feet."
Miller said she was tired of renegotiating the deal and that the Kumar's fence would create "tunnel vision" of the water. As Miller spoke about the Kumar's fence, Beverland interrupted.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Beverland said. Later he slammed his gavel, an Oldsmar antique, on the table. The head flew off toward Miller.
She tossed it back.
"You're just angry because I don't agree with you," Miller said. "You will not scream at me."
Kumar, who stood at a lectern in front of the podium, turned his back to the council and covered his mouth. Later, he jokingly suggested the city buy his house and turn it into a "fringe benefit" for City Manager Bruce Haddock.
Council members shrugged off that idea.
Instead, they agreed 3-2 to allow Haddock to negotiate the sale of the 10-foot strip. Miller and council member Suzanne Vale, who was unwilling to sell the land because she did not yet know what it would be used for, voted against the agreement. Supporting the sale were Beverland, Don Bohr and Jim Ronecker.
The council still must approve the final sale.
"Whether we put an art center down there or a passive park, 10 feet doesn't matter that much," said Bohr.
