City to consider buying Austin's Coffee House to widen road and improve MLK Park

The potential land deal is one in a series of acquisitions to add turn lanes at Fairbanks Avenue and Denning Drive

Nov. 11, 2024

By Beth Kassab

The City Commission this week will consider spending $4 million to purchase the buildings leased by Austin’s Coffee House and neighboring shops to expand the intersection at Fairbanks Avenue and Denning Drive and expand MLK Park.

The 1-acre property at 929 W. Fairbanks Avenue is owned by a company managed by Andrew Dubill, a principal in Avanti Properties Group based on nearby Pennsylvania Avenue.

Winter Park leaders have slowly been acquiring nearby land to improve the busy intersection, including two properties to the east as well as right-of-way from the property owner at the northeast corner of the intersection.

The concept is to construct a left turn lane in both directions on Fairbanks to improve traffic flow, according to a staff report. The nearby park could also see potential improvements with extra land available, including the beautification of Lake Rose — the current moniker for the famous 1981 sinkhole that swallowed a home and at least five Porches at a repair shop.

With the property, would come at least four leases from businesses occupying the storefronts, according the staff report. Those all have expiration dates between 2025 and 2035 and bring in about $180,000 in rent each year.

The city would potentially takeover as landlord while the project planning is underway, a process estimated to take two to three years.

The staff report suggested some of the stores could still operate, perhaps with a reorienting of the building entrances, for a period of time.

City officials would use $1 million from the parks acquisition fund and $3 million from the newly-expanded Community Redevelopment District to cover the purchase price.

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