Sarasota Airport withdraws controversial land sale to New College

A controversial land sale that had raised allegations of political influence, faulty calculations and questions about airport security is no longer up for debate.

When it became clear that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would never allow this, the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority withdrew its $11.5 million sale of approximately 30 acres of airport land to neighboring New College of Florida.

In a statement Tuesday, the airport chief said the impact of drone technology and unmanned aircraft was one of the reasons for the FAA’s concerns.

“The FAA did not agree to authorize the release because the impact of the new technology on aviation facilities is still unclear,” said airport chief Rick Piccolo.

When asked to elaborate, Piccolo said in an email to WUSF, “This new technology was raised in verbal discussions I had with regional and district leadership over the last month as we worked to determine what, if anything, would be possible. It became clear that the FAA’s policies and conservative stance would not change and would not allow the release.”

The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The FAA has the final say on whether the airport site can be put up for sale. The agency initially blocked the sale in April, citing a number of reasons, including an estimate that lacked information, doubts about whether the price was appropriate and the safety of using the site for educational and recreational purposes.

Piccolo appealed the decision and sent additional documents to the FAA to obtain approval for the sale.

A whistleblower raised the alarm about the proposed sale in January, saying the deal was asking too much of New College – particularly because it ignored the value of the buildings on the property, which would revert to the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority (SMAA) at the end of the 100-year lease – and the price was only about half of what was necessary.

“I am pleased that the airport authority has withdrawn its application to release the airport site. This is good news,” said John Schussler, the airport’s former real estate director.

Drone technology “was probably at the bottom of a long list of reasons why the FAA would again reject the land sale,” added Schussler, who retired in 2018.

“Because SMAA has withdrawn its application, the FAA does not have to send SMAA another denial letter that we are not supposed to see,” he said.

New College has leased the land since the 1960s and pays approximately $100,000 annually, well below current market value, due to the term of the long-term lease, which expires in 2056.

The sale was easily approved by the boards of the airport and New College, both institutions’ boards having been appointed by Republican governors in recent years, including DeSantis.

Piccolo’s son, Fred, previously worked for New College President Richard Corcoran and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. Piccolo has repeatedly denied any influence of those connections on the deal.

“I respect the professionals at the FAA and, despite the unfounded allegations, have never attempted to exert outside political influence on this matter, nor has this ever been done,” Piccolo said in an email Tuesday.

“I tried to address a problem that is not imminent but will arise one day. It was not successful and at some point the time has come to move on,” Piccolo added.

“In the meantime, the status quo will remain in place for the next 31 years and I can turn my attention to more pressing matters.”

New College was taken over by DeSantis allies last year and wants to model itself on the conservative Christian Hillsdale College in Michigan.

Finding suitable accommodation for the growing number of students was a challenge. Some of the dormitories on the airport grounds were closed due to mold problems.

“While we are disappointed that the transaction could not be completed, we are grateful to the airport authority for their efforts. New College will continue to cooperate on future development issues,” Corcoran said in a statement.

“In the meantime, this will free up university resources to continue improving the campus.”