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PARKERSBURG -- Parkersburg City Council met as the Urban Renewal Authority after council on Tuesday to discuss the Economy Inn, two properties on 19th Street and a lot on Oak Street.
The Economy Inn, a dilapidated hotel, at 1954 Seventh St. is being looked at by the city as a location for the city's new fire station.
Ajay Babariya, president of the Kishanpooja Corporation that owns the hotel, applied to sell the property. Parkersburg City Planner Connor LaVelle said Babariya submitted an application for fair market value, which has been determined at $490,000.
Ryan Barber, development director for the city, said the property owner reached out after the report was handed to the URA last week. Barber said Babariya was not satisfied with the fair market value report, and said he will have the opportunity to seek outside consideration for an additional independent commercial appraisal on the property.
"Because of that I would recommend to the URA to table this action item for 60 days and allow additional time for city staff to negotiate this further for the property owner," said Barber.
Chris Rexroad, URA member, motioned to table the item for 60 days. The URA unanimously voted to table the application.
The URA discussed an application for the donation of two properties, one at 1517 19th St. and one at 1714 19th St. Karen Anderson, the former director of Peer Support Inc., applied to donate the properties. LaVelle said the estimated demolition cost for the 1517 19th St. property is $25,905. He also said that Peer Support Inc. has $2,453 in finance department fees associated with this property. The property at 1714 19th St. has a $7,770 estimated cost for demolition, and has $1,412.01 in finance department fees associated with the property.
Wendy Tuck, URA member, asked LaVelle if the house being in a trust would affect the title of the property at 1714 19th St. Lavelle said it wasn't reflected in their title opinion, but it would be something they would look into before the finalization of the donation.
Tuck also said that there were other interested parties in purchasing the property, and asked if the city would be in a rush to demolish the house. LaValle said he encourages anyone who is interested in buying the property to reach out to the property owner before the city finalizes the donation. He continued by explaining that not all property donations are guaranteed for demolition.
Zach Stanley, URA member, motioned to approve the application of both 19th Street properties. The URA unanimously approved the applications for donation.
The URA also discussed an application to purchase a lot at 1322 Oak St. The applicant, Louis C. Shields Jr., owns the adjacent property at 1324 Oak St., and wants to purchase the lot and attach it to his current parcel of land. The proposed purchase price is $500. LaVelle said Shields plans to fence in the property and have it as an extension of his current yard.
Jesse Cottrille, URA member, motioned to approve the application to purchase the Oak Street lot. The vote was 5-1 with Stanley dissenting.
James Dobbs can be reached at jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com.