StillDragon, a distillery equipment manufacturer, has proposed a $1,050,000 purchase of the former public works site owned by the City of Sebastian. The offer is $50,000 more than the appraisal price. Commonly called the city’s garage, this location on Sebastian Blvd. (CR-512) is between the American Legion and Sherwin-Williams Paint Store.
With grand plans to repurpose the buildings and transform the space, StillDragon intends to introduce an educational center, a craft cocktail sampling room, a restaurant, and a gift shop. Moreover, they envision an added outdoor patio seating complemented by a lush tropical botanical garden. This verdant space is intended to host live entertainment featuring bands on select nights.
Mayor Fred Jones told Sebastian Daily he is enthusiastic about the prospect of a distillery establishment on the Sebastian property. He added, “It is a good fit for the area.”
Vice Mayor Chris Nunn also expressed great enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing its alignment with the CRA’s vision.
“They want to become part of our community. This also puts a city-owned property back on the tax rolls, and it is exactly the type of business that fits the vision for our CRA district. It will be a beautiful addition to the triangle,” Nunn told Sebastian Daily.
However, there are some challenges with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) due to contamination concerns. Once the site of Sebastian’s Public Works facility, the property did not receive a clean bill of health from the DEP. Based on the RFP and response by StillDragon, the buyer would be liable for brownfield cleanup if the sale was completed before getting a final release from DEP.
Also, banks are reluctant to offer a business loan until the property passes thorough inspections. Currently, the city is waiting for the final environmental results to find the exact status.
To proceed with the sale, a move backed by the entire Sebastian City Council, the matter was tabled. This delay will grant the staff and StillDragon the necessary time to:
- Finalize the reevaluation being conducted by the city’s Brownfield consultant.
- Determine if the DEP will permit the new owner to operate in certain sections of the property while cleanup occurs in the contaminated zones, given that they previously allowed the city to operate under similar circumstances.
- Should the DEP require the new owner to wait for a final clearance before beginning operations, the process might extend up to two years. In such a case, the city and StillDragon must reassess their options.
In a conversation with Sebastian Daily on Thursday, Councilman Ed Dodd clarified that the RFP was for bids to buy the property. Hence, if StillDragon cannot begin operations until after the cleanup is finalized and certified, they prefer a lease-to-purchase arrangement, allowing the city to conclude dealings with DEP.
Dodd mentioned the current RFP didn’t account for a lease-to-purchase arrangement. He stated, “The city can’t lease the property under the RFP response because the RFP was not for a lease-to-purchase, and we may have to reissue the RFP.” He added that this reconsideration becomes essential if StillDragon needs DEP’s final clearance before starting operations.
“This is a great fit for that area in the city. It’s going to be a great enhancement,” Dodd said.
StillDragon is headed by industry expert Larry Taylor, pioneering modular distillation equipment design and supply. While their primary operations and assembly occur in West Palm Beach, they wish to relocate to Sebastian. Over their 12-year tenure, they’ve successfully sold 1,000 stills to more than 500 U.S. distilleries.
Taylor projects that the site’s revamp will span a year. Upon relocation to Sebastian, StillDragon aims to expand its team to 20-40 individuals for administrative and distribution jobs once the project is complete. Currently, the company provides employee benefits, including paid vacation, and covers 100% of their insurance.
Taylor mentioned their commitment to creating a positive work environment & emphasized flexible hours. They aim to ensure their employees can earn a decent living.
“We try to make it a good place to work. We’re very flexible with hours and things of that nature, but we like to pay our employees. We want good employees because turnover is not helpful,” Taylor said.
The Treasure Coast has five active craft distilleries: 2 in Stuart, 2 in Vero Beach, and 1 in Fort Pierce.
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