The Tallahassee City Commission voted Wednesday to approve a $650,000 deal to purchase the property where Big Dee’s BBQ stand operates.
The property is needed for construction of a roundabout at the intersection of FAMU Way and Adams Street. The roundabout is part of the FAMU Way Phase IV roadway improvements project.
Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox said the project is included in Florida A&M University’s master plan and was discussed with former FAMU President Larry Robinson to ensure the school was informed.
“This is one of the entry points into Florida A&M,” Williams-Cox said. “We’re doing it for safety reasons and purposes.”
To build the roundabout, the city says it needs the land owned by 1215 South Adams LLC, where Big Dee’s BBQ operates. The purchase was initially considered under the threat of eminent domain, which allows the city to force the sale of private property for public use, but only with fair market compensation. However, city officials say the owners agreed to the $650,000 deal.
The amount covers the appraised value of the property along with legal fees and costs for planning and consulting services.
Eric Gooch, engineering manager for the city, spoke at the commission meeting about the need for the roundabout. A traffic study conducted by his team found the existing traffic light at the intersection was ineffective and often caused traffic to back up. Gooch said a roundabout would improve traffic flow.
“We are also doing some improvements on FAMU Way in between Adams Street and Monroe Street,” Gooch said. “which will help to keep that queue from coming back that far.”
Q Arnold, one of the owners of Big Dee’s BBQ, attended the meeting and asked the city for a timeline for when they would need to vacate the property. Arnold said with the sale of the property they rent, they now have to make plans to relocate the restaurant and notify their workers.
“We have about 15 subcontractors that actually work at the restaurant,” Arnold said. “We are having to finalize and find out how this is going to affect their families.”
For now, Big Dee’s BBQ is looking for a new home. The popular barbecue spot has launched a GoFundMe campaign and hopes to find a new location to continue serving the community.