Pulse during the onePulse Foundation’s 6th CommUnity Rainbow Run. (Photo by Jeremy Williams)
ORLANDO | The planned Pulse memorial will no longer be built at the site of the nightclub, according to onePULSE Foundation.
In a statement released May 2, onePULSE said they are “disappointed to report that after months of negotiation an agreement could not be reached with Barbara Poma (the Founder of onePULSE Foundation), her husband, Rosario Poma, and their business partner, Michael Panaggio, for the full donation of the Pulse nightclub property. The Foundation had previously planned to build a permanent national memorial at the site to commemorate the 49 lives taken, survivors, first responders, and all those impacted by the June 12, 2016, tragedy.”
According to WESH2, the Pomas had been seeking $2.25 million for the property. In reaching out, a spokesperson for the Pomas told WESH2 that they would not be making a statement about the news of the memorial’s move.
The news came as a shock to many in Orlando with several of its elected officials commenting on the announcement.
“This is totally unacceptable,” wrote former state representative and current Florida Senate candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith on Facebook. “The site of Pulse nightclub is sacred ground. It serves NO other purpose than for families, survivors, our community, and future generations to find peace and reflection. Someone must right this wrong.”
State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, who has the Pulse property in her district, released a statement saying she was “incredibly disappointed” by the announcement.
“[T]he only appropriate decision of land use for this location is a memorial for those who we tragically lost at Pulse,” Eskamani said. “This is scared ground that should only be used to honor those who we have lost to gun violence and I urge those involved in these discussions to right this wrong and ensure that the Pulse property is used for a memorial.”
Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan took to social media saying that when she heard the news that she wasn’t surprised by the outcome.
“The city tried to purchase it 7 years ago for over 2 million dollars and they pulled out at the last minute,” Sheehan wrote on Facebook. “I served on the task force for 2 years and was treated horribly. I walked away and remained silent out of respect for the families and survivors. I know people are hurting right now. But it is important to remember how we all came together to help each other and the victims and families and continue to do so.”
onePULSE stated that the organization will provide an update in mid-May regarding future plans for the National Pulse Memorial on a new site, Orlando Health Survivors Walk and Pulse Museum.
Poma stepped down from her position at onePULSE last month with the foundation saying that it was part of a “planned leadership transition” that began in 2021.
