Thursday, March 13, 2014
Council To Consider Proposal For Purchase Of City-Owned Properties
Members of the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council have scheduled a meeting during which they plan to consider a proposal for the purchase of some city-owned properties in the downtown area.
Darrell Valentine, who is renovating several historic properties in the vicinity of the Lawrenceburg Public Square, addressed the council during their bi-monthly business meeting Thursday. He proposed purchasing four properties that are currently city-owned.
Valentine said he is interested in purchasing a building on Columbia Avenue, currently designated as the “Old Timers Club.” He said that he has recently purchased the other three buildings in that section and would like to own this one, as well.
He said that plans are in the works to move the God’s Storehouse-operated Community Thrift Store, currently located on First Street, to this location. He said that, should council members decide to sell the property to him, he would renovate it and the additional space would be included in the lease at no extra cost.
Valentine proposed purchasing three lots, as well. Two are located on the north side of Highway 64, along Fain Court, the third on the south side of Highway 64, off of Columbia Avenue.
Valentine said that the Old Timers building had been sold in 1971 at a price of $14,000. With the building in need of renovations and upkeep, he proposed purchasing it for $20,000.
He said that because the city does not pay taxes on the lots it was more difficult to determine the value. He said that he recently purchased another parking lot in that area for $11,000.
He told council members he would be willing to pay $8,000 apiece for the lots, since he would have to put some work into restoring them to an acceptable condition. Altogether, he proposed purchasing the building and lots at a price of $44,000.
Valentine told council members that he would be willing to lease the old bus station on East Gaines Street to the city for $1 per year in order to relocate the Old Timers Club. Members have suggested discontinuing the club since it is used infrequently.
Valentine said that a local restaurant owner has expressed some interest in opening a restaurant in one of his buildings on the Public Square, as well as a second across from Crockett Theater.
Council members scheduled a work session for 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, to discuss Valentine’s proposal.
