Pulse Nightclub will be bought by the city, in a move to preserve the memory of the tragedy there.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer revealed on Wednesday that the city intends to acquire the Pulse Nightclub, the LGBTQ+ establishment where a tragic event occurred in June 2016, resulting in the loss of 49 lives.
29-year-old Omar Mateen, claiming he was acting on behalf of ISIS, held hostages and shot over 100 people in the crowded nightclub during a 3-hour standoff. While he told police it was a political standoff, Mateen’s family testified that he was enraged seeing same-sex couple’s in public. The shooting was the most deadly terrorist attack in the U.S. since 9/11 and remains the second-deadliest mass shooting in the country, only surpassed by the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
The Orlando City Council will convene on Monday to vote on the proposed $2 million purchase, with the potential closing date set for October 27th. An official city spokesperson mentioned that the property, situated at 1912 S. Orange Ave., was assessed at $1.9 million.
Previously, the onePulse Foundation, established by one of the nightclub’s owners, had unveiled plans for a new memorial in a different location. However, Mayor Dyer, after meeting with survivors of the Pulse tragedy and the families of the victims, has expressed a strong belief that the “49 angels” who were taken too soon should have a lasting memorial at the Pulse site.
Dyer emphasized the city’s commitment to taking a collaborative and considerate approach that involves working closely with the victims’ families to honor those who were lost and commemorate the resilience of the Orlando community.
It is noteworthy that the Pulse site was officially designated as a national memorial two years ago, underlining its significance as a place of remembrance and reflection. The city’s decision to acquire the property affirms its dedication to preserving the memory of the tragedy and the lives affected by it.