Tallahassee Reports has chronicled the finances involved with the City’s initiative to renovate the Old Electric Building in Cascades. On July 10, 2013 the City Commission voted 5-0 to provide an additional $1.3 million in tax dollars to finance the restaurant project. You can read the details here.
Tallahassee Reports has now learned that the campaign treasurer for Mayoral candidate and current City Commissioner Andrew Gillum is the developer of the restaurant project.
But it did not start out that way.
Here’s the story.
Back in 2011 the City Commission directed Staff to present options related to the reuse of the Old Electric Building and based on a feasibility analysis, a request for proposal was subsequently released to solicit interest for a public/private partnership to implement a brew pub type establishment at the site.
Proof Brewing Company of Tallahassee was the highest ranked respondent and on October 24, 2012, the City Commission authorized the City Manager to negotiate an agreement with the Company for the renovation and lease of this City facility.
According to state records, Proof Brewing Company is owned by Liquor Loft, LLC located at 1717 West Tennessee Street. The registered agent and one of the three principals is Byron Burroughs of Tallahassee. The other two principals give an out of state address.
Since the October 24 decision, City Staff has been working to finalize plans, cost estimates and an agreement that will allow the project to proceed. Original funding for the project was identified as $1,355,714 with a lessee contribution of $1,548,286.
However, during the course of finalizing the plans, the architect of record for the project identified the need for up to $1.3 million in additional funding.
On July 10th, 2013 the City Staff recommended and City Commission voted 5-0 to approve an additional $1.3 million for the project. However, the proposed agreement provided to the City Commission by staff at this meeting has no reference to the original bid winner, The Proof Brewery.
What happened to the original winner of the bid, the Proof Brewing Company?
Research indicates that The Proof Brewery publicly announced on August 14 that “we will no longer be doing Cascades Park.”
Instead, the agreement put together by City Staff is with Cascades Holding, LLC. State records indicate this company was formed on June 24, 2013, just 16 days before the July 10th vote to approve an additional $1.3 million for the project.
Who is the owner or owners of Cascades Holdings?
State records indicate that the sole member of the Limited Liability Company is Adam Corey. Adam Corey also happens to be the campaign treasurer of Mayoral candidate and current City Commissioner Andrew Gillum.
Records with the Leon County Supervisor of Elections indicates that Adam Corey was appointed campaign treasure for the upcoming City of Tallahassee Mayoral race by Andrew Gillum on April 3rd, 2013. Online information indicates Corey is currently listed as Gillum’s campaign treasurer.
Tallahassee Reports asked each City Commissioner and the City Manager if they were aware of Adam Corey’s position in Gillum’s campaign before the vote on July 10th, but they have yet to respond.
City Commissioner’s Campaign Treasurer Is Developer for Cascades Restaurant Project added by Staff on
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Is there any information as to why the original ‘winner’ Proof Brewing withdrew after they appeared to have secured the contract? It seems to me (opinion only) that they may have been told in private that the additional funding request would not be approved by the city commission. Since they are a Tallahassee based company they cannot afford to say anything, lest their company get ‘strong armed’ by Marks and Gillum.
Why nothing to be found in the democrat or on WCTV’s news site?
First I must say thank you to Steve, Irwin, Preston and the few other local “celebs” that have the best interests of the community at heart. And for Steve Stewart, we owe you so much for staying with the political machine and not letting it get to you. You are not only an honest man you are a brave man.
Most folks don’t know or care that this democrat political machine is one of the most corrupt in the state. This latest issue of the “pub” is just the tip of the iceberg. Anyone who has a friend or relative that works for the city can tell you of the many things that would make your skin crawl. An unimpeachable source one time tipped off the Tallahassee Democrat about a scandal in government. Within minutes the Democrat was on the phone warning this particular agency of a whistleblower. That is why the Tallahassee Reports is so important. The newspaper in this town is not fighting for justice, they are the enemy of democracy, they are helping this political machine stay in place by making sure the public is either unaware of the crooks or distracted with other emotional issues that they seek to control.
This article goes to show that the citizens of Tallahssee get what they vote for. It also shows that these politicians that have their best interest in mind while doing the ” business of the people” get what they pay for. Only, they don’tt use their own money, they use the money of people.
How can something as sleazy as this happen? Hmmm, elections must not be for another 4 years. Looks like this young fellow has learned from the best.
Is there no one who can/will remove these people from office?
No one will remove these people from office, this town is filled with corrupt democrats. Dems love to accuse republicans as the good ole boy network and that may be true but it pales in comparison to the Democrat good ole boy network.
I thought it was interesting the ethics committee proposed all City employees to go through ethics training annually. This came about because of the commissioner’s actions, not the regular everyday city employees. Now that this has come out about the Cascades Restaurant, I wonder what other stuff the Commissioners will do to punish the employees so it seems like the Commissioners are being all “ethical”. Seems like the Commissioners are the ones who need the ethics training, and not the regular employees.
Thanks again, Steve
another rip=off by city officials
Thanks again Steve. But Im sure theres no Ethic violation. Please send us what the commissioners have to say – you are our only scource of what our “number one ” City is up to.
This brew is starting to stink and the City’s share of the investment should be withdrawn immediately. Meanwhile, each City Commissioner and the City Manager must respond to “Tallahassee Reports” question about if they were aware of Adam Corey’s position in Gillum’s campaign before the vote on July 10th. It would also be interesting to know if Adam Corey made a campaign contribution and, if so, how much?
Thanks to “Tallahassee Reports” for getting to the bottom of this beer barrel, stinky bottom though it may be.
JB
Yes, a corporation that Adam Corey is listed as a registered agent on: Tallahassee Hospitality Group, LLC donated $500 to Gillum’s campaign on 4/17/2013.
https://www.voterfocus.com/ws/wscand/candidate_pr.php?op=cv&e=14&c=leon&ca=321&rellevel=4&committee=N