Donor blasts nonprofit’s land deal
Former land owner mulls action against Audubon Society
The wooded acres near Mount Dora had been in Kenneth Rubinson’s family since the 75-year-old chemistry researcher was a boy.
Living and working in Maryland, he said he couldn’t travel often to Florida to enjoy a walk in his woods but decided others should get the chance. He gave the 6-acre property with its untouched oak and pine canopies to the Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society in December 2007 to keep as a wildlife sanctuary forever.
But the small Audubon chapter, one of 43 independent branches in Florida, listed the land for $189,000 last year with a broker who specializes in commercial real estate.
“I was flabbergasted and felt betrayed,” Rubinson said. “You trust them without thinking twice.”
He asked a lawyer to challenge the chapter’s effort to flip his land for money.
The disagreement between Rubinson and the Eustis-based Audubon chapter has dragged on for months. Both sides have lawyers.
The parties talked about turning the land over to a third party, the Catholic Diocese of Orlando. St. Patrick Catholic Church and its campus is across the road from the wildlife preserve on land the diocese bought from Rubinson 2017 for $1.8 million.
Tavares attorney Timothy Hoban, who represents Rubinson, said his client has considered suing for fraud.
The Audubon chapter’ counsel, Zachary Broome, declined to discuss details, concerned his comments could interfere with a potential resolution.
“The position of the Audubon Society is they are working to address Mr. Rubinson’s concerns and to amicably resolve the matter,” the lawyer said.
In 2008, the chapter announced Rubinson’s gift in “The Limpkin Call,” its quarterly newsletter, which is named for a gangly bird’s shrill squawk . in