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by Ryan Paice on June 16, 2026 | Be the first to comment
The process to replace the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church has begun.
Land planner Marshall Robinson of the Bradenton-based Grimes Galvano law firm submitted a land development application to the city of Holmes Beach May 12 to redevelop the property into up to 17 single-family detached residential dwellings.
The Gloria Dei congregation formed in 1959 and the building and its iconic roof, designed by architect Victor Lundy, has been an island landmark since it was built in 1964.
The church, 6608 Marina Drive, is owned by the Florida-Bahamas Synod Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
The building sustained damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 and permanently closed its doors following a final service in January 2025.
The property consists of three contiguous parcels totaling 2.96 acres, which are all zoned for public/semi-public use, a zoning district designated for community facilities like churches and schools.
However, the property is listed for sale with a $9.9 million asking price that is based on the highest and best use if it were rezoned and redeveloped.
The May 12 land development application requests to rezone the property from PSP to R-1, a zoning district for low-density, single-family residential uses. That zoning allows up to 5.8 dwellings per gross acre of land and a minimum lot area of 7,510 square feet, according to city code.
The property is currently surrounded by residential development zoned for either R-1 or R-2, which is for medium-density residential uses.
The application also requests an amendment of the comprehensive plan map to designate the property for low-density residential future land uses, as well as an amendment of the comp plan’s text to reflect the resulting changes in zoning coverage.
HB director of development services Chad Minor wrote in a June 15 email to The Islander, “Staff is currently under sufficiency/completeness review, once application is deemed complete/comments are addressed, we will schedule for public hearings.”
Grimes Galvano attorney Kyle Grimes explained the proposal in a May 4 email to Manatee County deputy director of engineering services and county engineer Scott May.
“This amendment would permit up to 17 single-family residential units in accordance with the maximum allowable gross density, although based on conceptual designs, the site would likely only accommodate 11+/- residential units,” Grimes wrote.
Any proposed rezone or future land use amendment would be done via ordinance, which requires two public hearings and city commission approval.
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