Council approves option to purchase condemned building at 1 East Franklin Street to pursue demolition funding

New Freedom Borough Council approved an option to purchase the property at 1 East Franklin Street (parcel ID 78-00-01-0202) so the borough can pursue grant funding to demolish a building characterized in the meeting as a public-safety hazard. The option gives the borough time to seek financing; if grants or funding cannot be obtained, the borough may decline to exercise the option.

Council members described the building as condemned and a public-safety and blight concern for the downtown business district. The property is 0.21 acre; the borough attorney and staff said the current appraised value is negative $8,000, and the immediate option fee cited in discussion was $875 plus preparatory costs. The council and staff emphasized this is not a revenue-generating purchase: "There is no return on investment on the property," a staff member said during discussion.

Council discussion noted that if the borough acquires the property it would use the option period to pursue grant funding and would budget acquisition and remediation costs in the next municipal budget year. Council members framed the action as an effort to protect public health, welfare and safety and to forestall potential liabilities (for example, a building collapse into a creek or fire risk).

A motion to approve the option to purchase the property and present the offer to the owner was made and the council voted in favor. Council directed staff to proceed with required steps, including the prepared agreement of sale that accompanies the option, title review and any needed grant applications. No final purchase agreement was executed at the meeting; the option authorizes the borough to exercise or decline the purchase after pursuing potential grant funding.