If the Bayfront Activity Center Advisory Committee has its way, the new location for the center will be in one of several buildings at the Military Heritage Museum, 900 West Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda. 

The Bayfront Activity Center building, 750 West Esplanade in Gilchrist Park, was managed by the Sky Family YMCA and used by many community organizations including the Y, Boy Scouts of America, Learn to Sail, the Boaters Alliance and the Historic Punta Gorda Civic Association. 

The structure was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian on September 2022.

The advisory committee on Aug. 11 wrapped up its recommendation ahead of its final meeting slated for Aug. 18. 

As members listened to a presentation by the city of Punta Gorda’s principal planner Mitchell Austin, they ranked several alternative sites which included the museum site and rebuilding the damaged center. 

All members, with the exception of one, favored relocating the center to the museum property. 

Dissenting member of the committee, John Welsh, who represents Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor Boaters Alliance, said he wants to keep the center at its present location. 

Military Heritage Museum board director Dr. David Klein, said since the Bayfront Activity Center, built in the 1960s, is in a flood and velocity zone, it wouldn’t be feasible to rebuild at its current site. 

The glitch, however, is that Fishermen’s Village, which also owns the museum site, went into foreclosure this summer. 

Owner of Fishermen’s Village and its related holdings is Jon Larmore; shareholders accused him of mismanaging investor money and he has since been embroiled in a lawsuit. 

Advisory Committee member Kim Amontree, representing the YMCA of Southwest Florida, said she and her fellow committee members will ask the City Council to purchase the Military Heritage Museum property when it meets Aug. 23 to decide on the matter.
 

Klein confirmed there have been fund-raising efforts by the museum to purchase the property.