Committee accepts TPRI LLC offer and authorizes negotiations for old Fire Station 11

A Tuscaloosa City committee voted to accept an offer from TPRI LLC for the cityowned, decommissioned Fire Station 11 and authorized city staff and the city attorney to begin contract negotiations, after hearing two bids that were both below the stations appraisal.

The committee heard from two prospective buyers: Eaton Resources, represented by realtor Julia Eaton, which offered $210,000 and said it would invest more than $150,000 to renovate the building for offices; and TPRI LLC (Taylor Patterson Real Estate Investments), represented by Kirk Patterson, which offered $277,500 and said it plans to pursue a larger commercial development tying adjacent parcels to the property. City staff told the committee the station had been appraised at $365,000.

Why it matters: The sale would transfer a former municipal facility to private ownership and could change how the parcel at Old Highway 11 and the nearby interstate exit is used, from a decommissioned fire station to commercial offices or a larger commercial project. The committees authorization allows city staff and legal counsel to negotiate contract terms with the chosen bidder; it does not itself record a finalized sale.

City staff recounted the process leading to the meeting: the council previously authorized staff to begin disposal of the old station and to obtain an appraisal. Two written proposals were submitted and presented to the committee. Julia Eaton identified herself as "the realtor for Eaton Resources" and said Eaton Resources, a family mining operation based in the Brookwood area, would move some offices to the site and planned to invest about $150,000 on renovations to convert the facility for office use. Eaton said the business currently holds a license in the city of Brookwood but would relocate operations and bring taxable business activity to Tuscaloosa.

Kirk Patterson, representing TPRI LLC (Taylor Patterson Real Estate Investments), said the company had inspected the building and views it as commercially viable with repairs and modifications. "That's our long range plan, would be to try to get some type of office or business in there," Patterson said, adding that TPRI owns nearby property and would seek to assemble adjoining parcels to pursue a larger commercial project.

Committee members asked staff about annexation and utilities. Staff confirmed the property is within the City of Tuscaloosas corporate limits. On utilities, staff said the site is on "citizens water" but not on city sewer; a pump station sits behind the station.

After discussion, a committee member moved to accept the TPRI offer and to authorize staff to begin contract negotiations; a second was recorded and the motion passed on an affirmative voice vote. The committee also explicitly authorized the city office and the city attorney to negotiate terms with the bidder.

What comes next: The meeting record shows only that staff and the city attorney were authorized to negotiate; the transcript does not specify a timeline for completing negotiations or what further approvals (for example, a council vote) would be required to finalize any sale.