The recent sales price is $109,400 or 58% above Dozier’s original purchase price, which was approximately three years ago.

A review of public documents after the Dozier purchase shows permits were acquired for a roof ($9,700) and a deck ($3,000). .

Real estate sales data for Leon County shows that during a comparable period, January-2015 through October-2017, the sales price of single-family homes increased approximately 12%.

TR reported in October that Dozier listed the home she purchased from Burnette, who had business before the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), for $269,000 – approximately $80,000 more than she paid for the home on January 21, 2015.

The controversy over the transaction was first covered by Tallahassee Reports and subsequently reported by the Tallahassee Democrat. Dozier told the Democrat,”It was an arm’s length transaction; the house was available to the public. No matter who the owner was, we followed the rules.”

On October 23rd, 2014, three months before the Dozier purchase, the CRA voted 7-1 to provide IB Tallahassee, LLC, as the owner of the Doubletree Hotel at Adams Street, up to $682,000 in CRA grant funds. Among those elected officials that voted for the grant was Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier.

Mr. Burnette was listed as the Manager of IB Tallahassee, LLC, according to the state of Florida Division of Corporations in 2014 and 2015. Mr. Burnette were mentioned in the FBI subpoenas delivered to city hall related to the investigation of the CRA.

Back in July Dozier defended paying $188,600 for the home which was appraised for $280,000 approximately eight months earlier.

Dozier told TR that “I am exceptionally careful about conflicts of interest” and “I am confident the purchase of this home was conducted per our ethics rules.”

Subsequently TR discovered that Commissioner Dozier listed the value of the home on her 2015 financial discolsure form as $280,000.

Information obtained by TR shows that the home located at 510 Terrace Street is currently listed for $269,000.

Real Estate professionals told TR that based on the listing price Dozier could net approximately $50,000 with the sale after owning the home for less than two years.

The purchase of the home came under scrutiny after TR received a tip and discovered the home was owned by local business man JT Burnette and Catherine Baker.

On October 23rd, 2014, three months before the Dozier purchase,  the CRA voted 7-1 to provide IB Tallahassee, LLC, as the owner of the Doubletree Hotel at Adams Street, up to $682,000 in CRA grant funds.

Mr. Burnette was listed as the Manager of IB Tallahassee, LLC, according to the state of Florida Division of Corporations in 2014 and 2015. Both Ms. Baker and Mr. Burnette were mentioned in the recent FBI subpoenas delivered to city hall related to the investigation of the CRA.

Among those elected officials that voted for the grant was Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier.

Back in July Dozier defended paying $188,600 for the home which was previously appraised for $280,000.

Dozier told TR that “I am exceptionally careful about conflicts of interest” and “I am confident the purchase of this home was conducted per our ethics rules.”

Subsequently TR discovered that Commissioner Dozier listed the value of the home on her 2015 financial discolsure form as $280,000.

The directions for completing the Form 6 states that “real property may be valued at its market value for tax purposes, unless a more accurate appraisal of its fair market value is available.”

In a report published by TR on July 31st, Dozier questioned the accuracy of the $280,000 appraisal completed in May of 2014 of a home she purchased for 188,600 in February 2015. The property seller was J.T. Burnette.

Three months before the purchase, Dozier, with other members of the CRA, voted to award $682,000 in grant funds to a business owned by Burnette.

The image of the 2015 financial disclosure form is shown below. The full report can be viewed here.

Among those elected officials that voted for the grant was Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier.

Less than three months later, public records show that Commissioner Dozier purchased a home located in Lafayette Park from Catherine D. Baker and John Thomas Burnette.

Mr. Burnette was listed as the Manager of IB Tallahassee, LLC, according to the state of Florida Division of Corporations in 2014 and 2015. Both Ms. Baker and Mr. Burnette were mentioned in the recent FBI subpoenas delivered to city hall related to the investigation of the CRA.

Also, TR has previously reported that Mr. Burnette is a major campaign donor to local government races.

According to property records, the purchase of the property by Commissioner Dozier took place on February 18th, 2015 in the amount of $188,600.

The prevailing ethics rules state that “No public officer or employee of an agency shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with any business entity or any agency which is subject to the regulation of, or is doing business with, an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee,..”

However, an exemption is available to an elected official if the purchase of goods or services is at a price and upon terms available to similarly situated members of the general public.

The final price of $188,600 was never advertised to the general public.

The specifics of the real estate transaction are as follows:

On May 7, 2014 the property was appraised for $280,000 by Timberlane Appraisal with the condition of adding a new roof estimated to cost approximately $10,000.

On July 19, 2014, three months after the appraisal the property, was listed on the MLS for $230,000.

On October 29, 2014 the price was reduced to $215,000.

On December 22, 2014 the price was reduced to $199,000 and on January 12, 2015, the property was removed from the MLS.

After viewing the property, Dozier told TR she discovered that the home was owned by Mr. Burnett.

After being removed from the MLS, Ms. Dozier signed a contract on January 21, 2015 and on February 18, 2015 the property was sold for $188,600.

Real estate professionals consulted by TR stated that the $91,400 drop from the initial appraisal to the final sales price leaves a lot of unanswered questions.

There was no indication of major problems with the home in the appraisal and TR confirmed there were no permits on record indicating major repairs.

Commissioner Dozier Responds

Dozier told Tallahassee Reports, “I am exceptionally careful about conflicts of interest” and  “I am confident the purchase of this home was conducted per our ethics rules.”

In addition, Dozier said the transaction was at “arms length” and that she was not personally involved in direct negotiations regarding the purchase price. Rather, the negotiations were handled by her real estate agent.

Why the difference between the appraised price and sold price? Ms. Dozier offered that the house had been used as a rental for a number of years and that the market ultimately determines prices.

The letter comes after a bruising fight over a redevelopment proposal that was recently passed by the city commission after significant modifications. Despite design modifications to the proposal, a number of residents fought the initiative up to the final vote.

During the final hearing, city commissioners and residents talked about the personal toll the two year process took on friends that found themselves on opposite sides of the issue. Tuck’s letter is an obvious attempt to begin a healing process.

Tuck also addressed the immediate future of the club. He told members to expect few noticeable changes until “we get designs for the temporary clubhouse and the NEW clubhouse, as well as permitting from the city to build both.”

Tuck informed the members he had met with designers to move forward with a conceptual plans for a clubhouse and that it is “now time to make final decisions so the building plans can go forward. I will keep you informed as progress is made. We have quotes for demolition of the building and for the development of the temporary clubhouse.”

Also, Tuck said that club “will be doing several membership drives over the next several months and we ask for your continued support. Later this year we will put caps on the maximum numbers of members by category. I look forward to the day we have the best club in Tallahassee and a waiting list for memberships.”

TR has previously reported a timeline for the residential development here.

JT Burnette, the developer of the project, told TR that permits for the residential development should be in hand by January 1, 2018 and the construction of the infrastructure for the residential development will begin and should be completed in approximately 10 months.

Based on this timing, the first homes would be built by the end of 2018 and the clubhouse construction should be near completion.

The end product was very different than the original proposal pushed by Barton Tuck, the owner of the club.

What began as a proposal for 350 apartments with promises made by an out of town owner, ended up as an age restricted community with 147 residential units backed by the reputation of local businessman JT Burnette.

Despite the changes, those most affected by the development were not swayed.

Emotions ran high during the four hour meeting which featured public comments from both sides that became personal at times.

In short, those opposed to the redevelopment viewed the proposal as a government bail-out at their expense. They believed Tuck failed to invest in the maintenance of the club during is years of ownership and now was seeking the city commission to help him recover from bad business decisions.

Those in favor, feared a failure of the redevelopment plan would ultimately doom Killearn Estates as a desirable golf course community.

In the end this fear seemed to have an impact on the city commissioners.

However, as demonstrated in the closing comments of the elected officials, the involvement of JT Burnette appeared to also be a deciding factor.

Burnette’s involvement in the development, which we wrote about here, put a local face on a project that had been losing some credibility since the Planning Commission voted against the project.

Burnette’s relationship with the elected officials, his demonstrated successes (Hotel Duval), and his changes to the plan convinced the city commission his vision was worth their vote.

Check back for updates.

The sale is contingent on a number of parameters, which includes a rezoning of the property to allow for residential development.

The current rezoning application, submitted by Killearn Country Club owner Barton Tuck,  seeks an urban development designation that allows for 10 units/acre.

However, Burnette told TR that his plans are to develop an over 55 deed restricted community with approximately 135 units – this is about 4 units/acre.

The City Commission is scheduled to take up the issue on April 4th. The Planning Commission recommended denial of the original application in a 3-2 vote earlier this year.

There have been reports that Mr. Tuck was considering an elder care unit for the development. However, Burnette’s proposal includes only residential properties.

The lay out of the new homes attempts to address a major concern for the homeowners that will border the development by providing a minimum 125 foot buffer.

“I am a local guy. This project needs to look like Killearn Estates single family homes with greenways protecting the existing homeowners not a three story 300 unit apartment complex. I want to do what I can do make the club work given the current financial realities. I am not responsible for where the situation is now, but I think I can help move things forward in a positive way”, said Burnette.

Burnette told TR that the success of his project is tied to the construction of a new club house with amenities that will help the Killearn Country Club be successful.

“I am committed to using my own resources if required, to ensure Mr. Tuck facilitates his obligations with the construction of a new club house that meets the high standards of Killearn Estates,” said Burnette.

Mr. Burnette, who is probably best known for his purchase, re-development, and selling of Hotel Duval, has a number of business interests in Tallahassee. He has owned restaurants, mixed-use developments and was the force behind the downtown Gateway building.

Check back for updates.

The CRA is comprised of nine members, including the five City of Tallahassee Commissioners along with four of the seven Leon County Commissioners, selected by the Leon County Commission.

According to the City’s website, the CRA projects must serve a public purpose and must address concerns raised in the adopted redevelopment plans for each area.

The Community Redevelopment Act (Act), adopted in 1969, is intended to help communities revitalize downtowns, reserve historic structures, and otherwise enhance the designated CRA district.

According to Florida statutes, in order to establish a CRA, the local government legislative body must adopt a resolution finding that the designated area is a “slum” or “blighted,” or it contains a shortage of affordable housing, and that the rehabilitation or redevelopment of the area is “necessary” in the interest of the public’s “health, safety, morals or welfare.”

The owner of the Doubletree, John Burnette, was the top political donor to local campaigns during the 2014 cycle with approximately $24,000 in donations through approximately 20 different businesses.

Based on the agenda provided by CRA staff, IB Tallahassee, LLC, owner of the Doubletree hotel submitted a request for up to $682,000 in CRA grant funds for assistance with the installation of sidewalk/streetscape improvements on the east side of South Adams Street between Park and College Avenues (the Project).

As proposed, installation of the project would be funded by the Doubletree owner and the CRA funds would be provided as a reimbursement to the owner over 10 years at 5.0 percent annual interest.  The hotel is located within the Downtown District (DD) Community Redevelopment Area and is consistent with the Downtown Community Redevelopment Plan.

The proposed design includes expanding the sidewalk on the northwest corner of the hotel into metered parking spaces, adding outdoor seating under two marbled pergolas (arbor), installing a vehicle pull-in/drop-off for restaurant guests, and the creation of a pedestrian plaza along the existing sidewalk using granite pavers.

The proposed project has been reviewed by CRA and City staffs, including representatives of Public Works and the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department/Design Works.  A major portion of the CRA/City review has focused on ensuring the sidewalk/streetscape design proposed by the Applicant can also be continued along Adams Street from City Hall north to Tennessee Street, and eventually north to the Governor’s mansion and the Grove.

If the CRA Board approves the project funding request, the owner will work with City and CRA staff to refine the concept details, if needed, to ensure they are consistent with the overall Adams Street vision.

Tallahassee Reports has contacted the CRA staff to determine who voted for and against the project. The only no vote that has been verified by Tallahassee Reports was cast by Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor.