Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
The city council accepted bids for the former city hall, and the pocket park lot in downtown Waitsburg. Interested parties were asked to include 'proposals for use' in their bids. Above is the conceptual sketch submitted by the Bennetts showing the lot as outside space for American 35, their restaurant opening in Spring 2022.
WAITSBURG-Since accepting bids for two properties on Main Street last month, the city sees the surplus process coming to an end by the March City Council meeting.
The sale of 124 Main Street, the lot that the City of Waitsburg purchased as a pocket park in 2018, was tabled in November after the council questioned the real estate policy and its lack of flexibility in accepting bids. The first call for bids gave the city only three options after receiving qualified bids: accept the highest offer, reject all bids, or table the decision. The City Council rejected all bids and worked with the city attorney to draft a revised surplus policy that allowed the council to consider proposals for the use of the property and the amount of the bid.
In January, the calls for bids, which were to include proposed use, went out for the former City Hall building at 147 Main Street and the lot at 127 Main Street.
Multiple proposals were received from bidders from all over Washington for the old City Hall building. Two bids met the criteria, and the city accepted the bid from Walla Walla resident Randy Hallowell. The Hallowell proposal includes developing residential units on the upper floor and retail space on the main floor of the building.
Tom and Judy Bennett from Waitsburg submitted the only bid for the lot next to their building on Main Street. The council accepted their offer for the property, which will be used for outdoor seating and events at their new restaurant, American 35, opening this Spring.
In an email, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said the steps to follow the bid acceptance were simple. A sales agreement was drafted by the city's legal team and sent to the respective buyers. As of Monday, the Bennetts had accepted the proposed sales agreement. The city was still waiting on Hallowell to accept the sales agreement.
After the sellers and buyers agree to the terms for the sales, the sales agreements will be sent to a title company to finish the closing process. Hinchliffe believes that the process will be finalized before the March city council meeting.
The next Waitsburg City Council meeting has been moved back a week and will be held on Wednesday, March 23, at 7 p.m.
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