By Contact Reporter

OCTOBER 17, 2016

To woo seller, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea offers free parking for life

The town offered a deal to the owner of a coveted apartment complex and he took a pass — a lifetime parking pass.

Commissioners wanted to buy the Majestica Apartments to expand the adjacent town parking lot on State Road A1A near Commercial Boulevard. But they were unwilling to meet owner Stephane Maltaise's $2.7 million asking price.

Maltaise rejected the town's $2.547 million counter offer in September, but the deal got new life when real estate agent Rick Bonvie agreed to waive his $108,000 commission and the town said it would pay $44,500 more.

As a deal sweetener, commissioners agreed to throw in lifetime permits for Maltaise and Bonvie. The nontransferable permits are worth about $55 a year each, based on the current resident permit fee.

The permit won't come close to matching what Bonvie gave up in commission fees, but he said it'll give him a good feeling every time he's visiting and doesn't have to feed a meter.

"I'm not going to forget it," Bonvie said.

lbarszewski@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4556