LAKE WALES April 13, 2025) – The Lake Wales City Commission will consider approving a settlement agreement to regain the Walesbilt Hotel. The vote will take place at a commission meeting scheduled on Tuesday, April 15th at 6:00 p.m.
The proposed agreement states the City will pay Dixie Walesbilt LLC owner Ray Brown $450,000 to transfer ownership of the property to the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The agreement requires both parties to relinquish any claims against each other and take responsibility for paying their own attorney’s fees.
“This is a significant victory for the people of Lake Wales,” City Manager James Slaton said.
Eight hours of deliberation took place before both parties reached an agreement. Slaton, who serves as the executive director for the Lake Wales CRA met with Lake Wales’ attorney Kevin Ashley to negotiate the deal with Brown and the Dixie Walesbilt legal team.
“Redevelopment of the Walesbilt will encourage future developers to invest in our city,” Slaton added.
The City recently celebrated the completion of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment of Park Avenue and Market Plaza, a gathering place for community events.
More roadways in the downtown historic district are scheduled to be transformed.
Orange Avenue and Crystal Avenue will be rehabilitated with funding from a federal grant and intergovernmental agreement with Polk County. Both roadways will be resurfaced and include enhanced sidewalks and landscaping.
First Street, Central Avenue, Lincoln Avenue and A Street will be redeveloped with nearly $23 million in grant funding from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. Conceptual plans for the roadways feature on-street parking, enlarged sidewalks, enhanced lighting and outdoor seating, as well as new landscaping.
Slaton said, “The RAISE grant we applied for and was awarded to Lake Wales will accelerate the redevelopment of downtown and the northwest neighborhood.”
Plans to redevelop the historic core of Lake Wales are part of the award-winning “Lake Wales Connected Plan,” a long-range plan, initiated by Lake Wales Main Street and facilitated by City staff.
