ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orange County Commission approved a proposal to sell a piece of land that was once intended for a Pulse Museum.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said that the county will use the proceeds of the sale for qualifying projects once they are returned to the tourist development tax funds.
The former onePULSE Foundation purchased 1.7 acres at 438 West Kaley Street, which is less than a mile from the Pulse nightclub, in 2019 for $3.5 million using Tourism Development Tax funds, according to our partners at the Orlando Sentinel.
After a few years, the county took the land back after no plans or progress was made to build a museum.
Commissioners voted to adopt a proposed resolution that would allow them to declare the West Kaley Street property as surplus and sell it.
Now, the sale of the site is set to go through sealed bids.
After the onePULSE Foundation dissolved late last year, the city took over plans to build a permanent memorial honoring the lives of the 49 people who died during the June 12, 2016, mass shooting at Pulse nightclub.
Some residents had a strong reaction to the news.
“I am against it- I have lots of questions,” Brenda Campos Marquez said.
Justice for the 49 angels is what she wants.
She’s the cousin of Brenda Lee Marquez, who lost her life on June 12, 2016, as well as two Pulse survivors, Isaiah Henderson and Kassandra Marquez.
“No one has been held accountable, that’s what hurts the most,” she said.
Brenda says she wants the county to use the money after they sell the property for a private forensic audit into the now-dissolved onePulse foundation, or a third party investigation at the pulse site.
Commisioner Mayra Uribe says she’s willing to work with the City of Orlando to support their efforts with a plan for the city’s Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee for a design of a permanent memorial.
“They haven’t approached us yet. I’m hoping so, I’m hoping it would qualify for tourist development tax," Uribe said. “I think at this point we want to be supportive. I believe we should be able to use some funds to help move this along. It’s been way too long.”