Former Waitsburg City Hall has new buyers

WAITSBURG — The Waitsburg City Council voted unanimously to accept a new offer for the former Waitsburg City Hall building at its regular meeting on January 15. Todd and Carrie Alexander’s offer included a letter introducing the couple and their interest in the building.

The Alexanders have many interests, including food, wine, travel, design, art, and music. They recently bought and renovated the JL Elam bank building in Milton-Freewater, built in 1906. It sat empty for over ten years before the couple purchased it. The couple created Atelier Freewater, an inviting wine-tasting and event space, keeping the Elam Bank’s old vault and adding a commercial kitchen.

They plan to renovate the Waitsburg property as a mixed-use for residential and retail, including two guest rooms, an owner’s apartment upstairs, and one guest suite downstairs.

On the ground floor, the couple will repair, renovate, and reuse existing architectural materials to maintain the space’s original character for a retail, art, and wine-tasting room. Todd Alexander is known as an innovative winemaker for his projects and wineries, including Force Majeure and WeatherEye. Carrie works with him, handling sales and hospitality and sharing their creative vision.

The couple said they had been interested in the building for some time. However, the building went under contract in October 2024 before they could make an offer. Wanting a project in Waitsburg, they purchased the Whoopemup Hollow Café building next to American 35. The Alexanders have begun cleaning and are working on their concept for that space.

The building was last under contract to Chet Childers of Burbank, who hoped to turn the building into a beer spa with hotel rooms or apartments on the second floor. After completing an extensive feasibility study, Childers decided not to close per the conditions under the sales agreement.

The building offers several challenges beyond those expected when renovating a building built in 1889. The city-owned property is one of only two commercial buildings on Main Street with steps from the sidewalk to the main floor entrances. New owners will be required under the Americans with Disabilities Act to create an accessible entrance.

Potential buyers have also had issues with an easement between the owners of the Hubbard Law Offices next door and the former city hall. A loft apartment above the law offices is only accessible through the city hall building.

“First, the fact that there is an easement through the building is a non-issue for us. We are aware of the tenant in the loft, that is no problem,” wrote Todd Alexander in the offer.

At the city council meeting, Waitsburg residents Paul and Karen Gregutt said they knew the Alexanders and were confident they were the right buyers for the historic building.

The agreed purchase price for the old City Hall is $125,000, with a closing date of March 11, 2025.