COLUMBIA, 5/16/10 (Beat Byte) -- Columbia
City Hall is buying distressed property in the First Ward, partly with help from
Federal and State stimulus funds.
Monday night, Columbia City Council members will move to
purchase houses and land at the corner of North Garth and Sexton Avenues, around
the proposed site of a controversial but ultimately failed grocery
store/apartment development affiliated with Grace Covenant Church.
Using funds from a so-called "Neighborhood Stabilization
Program," City Hall is offering to buy a large parcel on Garth
Avenue, along with 106, 108, and 110 W. Sexton for
roughly $39,000; 102 E. Sexton for $33,000; and later, parcels
at 13 Forest St. and 904 Madison -- all
apparently in foreclosure.
A city staff report is vague on plans for the Grace
Covenant properties. "One project is under consideration," the report says,
though it doesn't describe the project. The land may also be "banked" for up to
10 years.
B108-10 Authorizing agreements to commit Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding
City Hall is also offering to buy the last house next to Douglass Park. Homeowner and landlord Pauletta Gresham -- who owns 413 N. 5th Street -- contacted the city offering to sell for what she says is appraised value -- $67,000. Gresham owns other properties on nearby Rogers Street. City Hall demolished another home next to the park in 2007, and apparently has eyes for other land around both Douglass and Field Parks.
City Hall is also offering to buy the last house next to Douglass Park. Homeowner and landlord Pauletta Gresham -- who owns 413 N. 5th Street -- contacted the city offering to sell for what she says is appraised value -- $67,000. Gresham owns other properties on nearby Rogers Street. City Hall demolished another home next to the park in 2007, and apparently has eyes for other land around both Douglass and Field Parks.
"The Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan
identifies a number of lots adjacent to both Douglass Park and Field Park and
targets those lots for potential acquisition, provided they become available for
purchase from willing sellers," the staff report says, apparently ruling out
eminent domain.
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