ORLANDO, Fla. — There are new developments regarding the future of Orlando’s first settlement, the site of Fort Gatlin.

Orange County Public Schools owns the property, but an anonymous private buyer and a group of residents have been competing to make the site a park, with two different visions for its future.

What You Need To Know

Orange County Public Schools owns the site of Fort Gatlin, Orlando’s first settlement

An anonymous buyer has an offer on the table to purchase the property
 
Residents and elected officials say they plan to meet with possible buyer’s attorney on Dec. 1

Residents, elected officials and the attorney for the potential anonymous buyer plan to meet soon to see if they can create a shared vision for the historic site’s future. Area residents say they will also speak Tuesday afternoon at the Orange County School Board meeting to make sure their views are known.

Ryan Smith lives near the site of Fort Gatlin, which was established by the United States Army as a military outpost in 1838. Today, a large abandoned building sits on the property.

“Anybody who lives near here, drives by this every day and wants better for the community, would prefer green space and a park,” Smith said.

Residents established the Fort Gatlin Historical Group a year ago to convince Orange County Public Schools to sell the site to Orange County government and run it as a public park. They’ve been putting up signs and campaigning online to raise public awareness.

“It’s been a great opportunity to come together as neighbors and a community to seek something better,” Smith said.

An anonymous potential buyer has an offer on the table right now to purchase the site with the goal of operating a nonprofit on the property to establish a private park, which would be open to the public. It’s a concept some residents say they do not trust.

Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe is working with the School Board and county leaders to push for public access. She says residents and elected officials plan to meet with the private buyer’s attorney on Dec. 1.

“We’re going to make sure that we’re all in one room,” Uribe said. “We’re discussing the details and that we all feel good of moving this forward, and that there will be assurances that the park will — this will become a park.”

Orange County School Board Member Alicia Farrant says the U.S. Department of Education has removed any restrictions on how the property can be used in the future. She said the Dec. 1 meeting is essential.

“(We are) just meeting to make sure that we have those assurances … public access to a private park,” Farrant said.

Randy Smith said that some of his neighbors are cautiously optimistic.

“There are concerns that I think need to be addressed,” he said. “And I think the meeting on Dec. 1, or around thereabouts, should hopefully resolve those concerns.”

Attorney James Willard, who represents the potential buyer, said he is arranging the meeting with residents and elected officials to share the extensive due diligence they’ve compiled about the site, and to reassure them about his client’s interest to convert the site into a privately owned community park.