By Alex Harris
January 15, 2020 11:23 AM
A swath of land in the Everglades at the center of a fight between a family determined to drill for oil and a constellation of parties urging them not to might finally have a new future.
The state intends to buy the 20,000-acre tract outright and halt the threat of oil drilling on the protected lands near Broward County’s western suburbs, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday.
The seller, a Miami family who made their fortunes in real estate, won the right to drill for oil on their land last year, despite opposition from the state. If the sale goes through, it’ll be the largest state land acquisition in a decade.
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The Kanter family agreed to sell the land for $16.5 million, but that price goes up to $18 million if the state doesn’t close the deal by June 30. The option agreement was signed on January 13.
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The Kanter family originally purchased the land more than 50 years ago
[So they undoubtedly got it for far less than they would get from this sale.]
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The state’s option agreement with Kanter also includes a provision that allows him and his brother to continue to use a hunting camp on the property rent-free until both of their deaths.
“It’s a very unique piece of property with incredible natural resources on it. We’re happy to know it’s going to be protected and kept in pristine condition for future generations,” he said. “The family wants to thank the DEP sec and the Governor for stepping in and taking a leadership role in creating a situation that’s a win-win for everyone.”
[How public spirited. They fight for oil permits, then charge the state a huge amount to buy it.]
Matthew Schwartz, executive director of the South Florida Wildlands Association, fought Kanter in court every step of the way, but he said Kanter’s legal argument was stronger than his because there’s no state law that says you can’t drill in the Everglades.
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