McMinnville officials are considering a measure to liquidate two empty lots on Main Street after a failed attempt in 2012.
Approximately five years ago, the lots located at 207 and 209 E. Main Street were declared surplus and sealed bids were accepted. Minimum bids of $24,000 and $22,000, respectively, were placed and based on the properties appraised values at that time.
Consideration was given to placing a requirement for the new owner(s) to build. However, no such restrictions were placed. No bids were received after several weeks.
The city’s Building and Grounds Committee met to consider what to do with the property.
“We’ve had these downtown lots for quite a while,” said city administrator Bill Brock. “I don’t feel the city is in the real estate business, particularly in that area.”
The properties were obtained by the city after a fire in 2008 destroyed the buildings on them, locally known as King’s Department Store and Locke’s Department Store.
The city’s lots are only two of five small properties that are currently empty on the corner of Main Street and N. Spring Street as a result of two separate fires.
Two lots are owned by First National Bank, while property owned by Mark Latka separates the bank and city lots.
By law, the city must offer a competitive bidding process when liquidating property by either accepting sealed bids or by live auction. The only exception is donating land to a nonprofit organization, such as Habitat for Humanity or the Industrial Development Board.
Officials are once again considering minimum bids and requirements for the new owner to build on the lots.
Alderman Everett Brock encouraged a minimum bid and restrictions.
“I think we should have some kind of minimum on them and some kind of restrictions about building on them,” said Brock. “If someone buys them and lets them set there, we are going to get $50 a year from taxes.”
Mayor Jimmy Haley added, “We don’t need someone to put a parking lot there either.”
As the seller, the city can place any restrictions it wants on the sale.
“I don’t have a problem selling them, but I don’t want to give them away and having them just sit there as empty lots for whomever does get them,” said Alderman Steve Harvey. “I don’t care if we get a decent price for them. Then they can do whatever they want to with them.”
Alderman Ryle Chastain disagreed stating, “I would like to see some restrictions put on them so there’s not something pointless like a parking lot or it just sits there and we’re none the better than when we started.”
When the value of the properties was questioned, city Planning and Zoning director Nolan Ming ac-cessed the information online and reported the properties have an assessed value of $6,450 each and an appraised value of $21,500 each.
“Good luck getting that much for them,” said Bill Brock.
Due to time constraints, the measure was tabled for future consideration.