The former Fitzsimmons Trailer Park sold at a second auction Thursday for $1.55 million to an unnamed bidder.

Bidding started at $795,000, well above Palm Bay’s $20,000 bid that was highest at a Dec. 21 auction. A bankruptcy judge is expected to confirm the sale Tuesday. Federal Judge Karen Jennemann ordered the second auction because bankruptcy was filed minutes before the December sale.

The new owner, bidder number “116,” declined comment about plans for the prime 4-acre site, zoned for mixed use and part of the Bayfront Redevelopment District. The land is on both sides of U.S. 1 at Palm Bay Road north of Pospisil Avenue.

Five people bid, although auctioneer Bob Ewald, president of Ewald Enterprises Inc., said 50 people signed up. Ewald used a Palm Bay police vehicle’s loudspeaker for the auction.

Emerson Noble of Winter Park, trustee for the property, was pleased with the outcome.

“The buyer got a good buy,” he said. “This site has potential.”

Jason Johnson, Noble’s attorney, said Latitude Holding Company still claims to have a $301,700 mortgage on the property from August 2005. Under an agreement, the estate will receive the first $250,000 and a portion of the amount above $1 million. The city would receive money authorized by a circuit judge for unpaid water bills, code enforcement violations and interest, cleanup work on the site, and for police work in removing tenants.

City Manager Lee Feldman expects the city to recoup its claims.

Posted: 04|28|06 at 9:19 am. Filed under: US News.