West Manatee Fire buys medical building

West Manatee Fire buys medical building

BUYER: West Manatee Fire & Rescue District, Bradenton

SELLER: Oriental Investments LLC

PROPERTY: 6417 W. 3rd Ave., Bradenton

PRICE: $1.1 million

PREVIOUS PRICE: $2.28 million, October 2003

LAW FIRM ON DEED: Mackey Law Group PA, Bradenton

PLANS, DESCRIPTION: The West Manatee Fire & Rescue District purchased the 12,026-square-foot former Manatee Obstetrics & Gynecology medical office building on 3rd Avenue north of State Road 64 for $1.1 million.

The purchase price equated to $91 per square foot of building space.

The office is planned as the district's new administrative headquarters along with space for meetings, storage, public education and training. The fire prevention, training and administrative staff were previously in two buildings several miles apart.

The district has been looking at real estate since at least 2005, when the West Manatee Fire Rescue Board of Fire Commissioners made it a critical issue. The district was reportedly interested in buying the building in 2008, but it was listed for $2.8 million.

However the building sat vacant and was eventually listed last year for $1.65 million. The eventual price was a short sale, below the amount owed on the former owner's mortgage.

The district is developing a request for proposal to remodel the building's interior.

The West Manatee Fire & Rescue District operates three fire stations.