The city of Orlando revealed the wish to purchase Pulse, the nightclub where 49 people were killed in a horrific massacre, pending final approval from the city council on Monday. The 4,500-square-foot structure has an estimated economic worth of $2 million.
On June 12, 2016, a 29-year-old gunman opened fire at the well-known gay nightclub in central Florida on Latin night, killing 49 and injuring at least 53 others. Police later shot and killed the gunman.
“The City is interested in acquiring this property as part of the process of developing a permanent memorial that honors the victims,” the agenda item states.
The location of the tragic shooting was described as “a permanent part of Orlando’s history” in an item on the agenda for the city council meeting on Monday.
“We recently met with some families of the victims, and survivors of the Pulse tragedy, who shared their desire for a permanent memorial at the Pulse site,” Mayor Buddy Dyer said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “To expedite the creation of a lasting memorial to honor the 49 angels, the City of Orlando is pursuing purchasing the site.”
Next Monday, the city council will decide whether to support the $2 million acquisition.
Orlando made an earlier effort to buy the club in late 2016, but the site’s owners refused to sell. Since then, a temporary monument with murals of the victims has been erected.
Deborah Bowie, the director of the foundation, told USA Today that she appreciated the city’s intervention. “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,” she said in a statement. “We look forward to being a part of the discussion with the City of Orlando as this moves forward.”
