NORTH PORT – City officials and developer representatives marked the latest step in the transformation of the city of North Port and evolution of Wellen Park Wednesday, with a formal groundbreaking for a new $13-million, 24,300-square-foot City of North Port Public Safety Building on the southwest corner of Tamiami Trail and Preto Boulevard.
Underscoring just how quickly the landscape of Sarasota County’s largest city is changing, online mapping services do not yet recognize the project’s address, 19955 Preto Blvd.
“I’m just so excited and grateful today to be here and celebrate this next phase within our city,” said North Port Mayor Jill Luke, who recalled following the progress of North Port and the area now known as Wellen Park two decades ago, when she lived in Manatee County.