Pulse Nightclub property to be purchased by Orlando for permanent memorial

The city of Orlando, Florida, plans to buy the Pulse Nightclub site where 49 people were massacred seven years ago, with plans to create a permanent memorial for the victims.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer made the announcement Wednesday that involves city council taking up the proposal to purchase the property for $2 million next week.

"When the site becomes a permanent memorial, it will be a place for reflection and love," Dyer posted, along with a link to his full statement. 

If approved by council on Monday, the sale would close by the end of the month, according to local news media outlets.

FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED AFTER PULSE NIGHTCLUB MEMORIAL SET ON FIRE, AUTHORITIES SAY

Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the Pulse nightclub shooting and activist, looks at the photos that are a part of the Pulse memorial in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 9, 2022. The city of Orlando is looking to purchase the site for $2 million with plans for a permanent memorial. (AP Photo/Cody Jackson, file)

City Commissioner Patty Sheehan told FOX 35 Orlando that no one on the council has been vocally opposed to the proposal.

"We are thankful to the City of Orlando for ensuring that the National Pulse Memorial will be located at the Pulse nightclub site, which was always the hope of families of the 49 victims and the Pulse-impacted community. We look forward to being a part of the discussion with the City of Orlando as this moves forward," the onePulse Foundation, the nonprofit that had been leading efforts to build a memorial and museum, wrote on Facebook. 

The foundation terminated its lease and handed the interim memorial over to the property owners, Barbara and Rosario Poma and businessman Michael Panaggio, WESH 2 News reported in August. 

Barbara Poma was the executive director of the onePulse Foundation, but stepped down as executive director last year and left the organization entirely earlier this year, according to The Associated Press.

PELOSI RENEWS GUN CONTROL PUSH ON ANNIVERSARY OF PULSE NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING

  • Image 1 of 4

    Outside Pulse Nightclub sits a sign with a whiteboard and markers, so visitors can write tributes. Photo from October 2020. (Pilar Arias)

  • Image 2 of 4

    Pictures of the 49 victims are showcased in the interim memorial from October 2020. (Pilar Arias)

  • Image 3 of 4

    "To expedite the creation of a lasting memorial, the City of Orlando is pursuing purchasing the site," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Wednesday. This file photo is from October 2020. (Pilar Arias)

  • Image 4 of 4

    Pulse Nightclub interim memorial from October 2020. (Pilar Arias)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The nonprofit also said earlier this year that it was scaling back from its plans for a large memorial with a $100 million price tag following fundraising challenges.

Omar Mateen opened fire in the nightclub on June 12, 2016, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded. At the time, it was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. However, that number was surpassed the following year when 58 people were killed and more than 850 were injured among a crowd of 22,000 at a country music festival in Las Vegas.

Mateen was killed after a three-hour standoff with SWAT team members. He had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.