Charlotte County government buys Paulson building for fleet

BUYER: Charlotte County, Port Charlotte

SELLER: Murrieta Dolphins LP

PROPERTY: 1800 Paulson Drive, Port Charlotte

PRICE: $770,000

PREVIOUS PRICE: $650,000, December 2002

ATTORNEY ON DEED: Derek Rooney Esq., Port Charlotte

PLANS, DESCRIPTION: Charlotte County purchased an 18,000-square-foot warehouse/distribution building north of El Jobean Road for $770,000.

The price equated to $43 per square foot.

The building features two dock-high doors, fenced outdoor storage and an acre of excess land.

Charlotte County acquired it to relocate its government vehicle operations from a 15,000-square-foot leased facility in Punta Gorda.

“The county-owned facility was heavily damaged by Hurricane Charlie in 2004,” says Paul Payette, senior division manager of real estate services for Charlotte County. “We've been searching ever since for a suitable replacement building. One of the tougher requirements is it had to be taller than 24 feet, and this building has minimum height of 28 feet.”

The move to the Murdock area will help to centralize the department in the county. It will also offer fleet operations more land.

After some minor retrofitting of the Paulson building, fleet operations are scheduled to relocate in September or October.

Fred Kolb and Jim Garinger of Colliers International Southwest Florida handled the transaction.