The Collinsville City Council will consider approving Harry Sterling as the attorney for possible litigation against Stone Wheel Inc., the last hurdle in the City’s plan to build a new Uptown park.
701 W. Main St. in the foreground and 703 W. Main St in the background. Both buildings will be demolished when the last tenant in 701 W Main St. relocates / Photo by Roger Starkey
Sterling, if approved, will replace Philip B. Alfeld, who was appointed as an associate Madison County judge in June. Alfeld had taken over negotiations with Stone Wheel after two years of discussions with City officials yielded no agreement, City Manager Scott Williams said.
The City Council approved an ordinance in March to allow the city to negotiate the termination of Stone Wheel’s lease for the 8,604 square-foot, second floor of 701 W. Main St. The City owns the lease after purchasing the building and the neighboring apartment building for $1.1 million in Jan. 2012.
(See related story: http://metroindependent.com/2014/03/13/collinsville-moves-one-step-closer-to-uptown-collins-park/4888/)
With negotiations still stalled following the March action by the Council, the City may be ready to invoke its rights as the property owners.
“We are where we always have been, where we are willing to negotiate with them,” Williams said. “However, after two years, we are now pursuing all legal options so we can continue with the development of the property.”
If the City should move forward with eminent domain proceedings, it would be in the interesting position. As owners of the property, the City would declare eminent domain against itself.
When the situation is resolved with Stone Wheel, 701 and 703 W. Main St. will be torn down, the DD Collins house moved onto the lots and a Collins Park built around the house. In 2012, the City received a bid of $148,395 to demolish the properties, Uptown Coordinator Leah Joyce told The Metro Independent in March.
When the Collins Park project is ready to move forward, bids will be requested to move the DD Collins House, currently located at 705 W. Main St., to its new home. A basement will be installed and a park built around it. The original bid for moving the house and building the park, including architectural services was $150,000, Joyce said.
Once in place, basic maintenance of the park will be performed by the Street Department. The recently formed Friends of DD Collins House non-profit group will assist at the site and through fundraising activities, Joyce said.
