The City of Orlando plans to purchase Pulse nightclub site & finally turn it into a memorial

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has announced the city’s intent to buy the Pulse Nightclub – an LGBTQ+ club where a gunman killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in 2016 – and turn it into a memorial for the victims.

Dyer reportedly voiced plans in a news release to present a proposal at the October 23 city council meeting to buy the club for $2 million.

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“In the interest of solving challenges in a way that brings our community together in love, acceptance and partnership, which is the enduring legacy of Pulse, we have decided to purchase the land from its current owners,” Dyer said in a statement posted to X. “We believe that this is the best and most appropriate way to expedite the creation of a proper memorial for the Pulse tragedy.”

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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. To expedite the creation of a lasting memorial to honor the 49 angels, the City of Orlando is pursuing purchasing the site. pic.twitter.com/WYdqS5KgLx

— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) October 18, 2023

There have been several failed attempts to turn the site of the massacre into a space that honors those who were killed. In 2020, the U.S. House passed a bill to designate Pulse as a national memorial, but it died in the Senate. In 2021, the House passed the bill again, and this time, so did the Senate. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law.

The memorial was set to be run by the nonprofit onePulse Foundation – led by the property owners. But leadership changes and fundraising hurdles have stalled the project, according to NBC News.

Should the city of Orlando successfully purchase the property, Dyer hopes to work with the victims’ families to create the memorial.

“We recently had the opportunity to meet with and listen to some of the family members of the victims, as well as survivors,” Dyer wrote. “They expressed their strong desire for a lasting memorial to be located on the Pulse site. The hurt and pain they shared – now more than seven years since this tragedy – only solidified our believe that the 49 angels deserve a permanent memorial on the Pulse site.”

Pulse survivor Brandon Wolf praised the mayor’s statement on X, writing, “Good. It’s time for a permanent space where people can grieve, reflect, and honor those stolen from us. One created by and for the community.”

Good. It’s time for a permanent space where people can grieve, reflect, and honor those stolen from us. One created by and for the community. https://t.co/WKdhHvSLJN

— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) October 18, 2023

The attack took place on June 12, 2016. The gunman, Omar Mateen, entered Pulse and opened fire.  He was the only shooter and was killed after a three-hour standoff with law enforcement as victims hid inside the club. Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group during the standoff.

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