Belleville council approves county land purchase for demolition, park contracts and budget measures

The Belleville City Council on April 21 approved acquiring 321 West C Street (Parcel 08210416013) from the Saint Clair County Trustee for $786 to enable demolition of a subdivided, dilapidated house, and took a package of other votes including park construction contracts, personnel actions and budget amendments.

Council members said the parcel purchase responds to long-standing neighborhood complaints and a court order for demolition. "The low estimate to get this house back into a livable condition is about at least $300,000," Scott Tyler, director of health, housing and building, said during the meeting as he described structural and safety hazards at the property. City Attorney Warner said acquiring the third parcel would not foreclose future options: approving the purchase "doesn't necessarily forego the opportunity in the future to do something other than [demolition]," Warner said.

Resident and property owner Kevin Wallace, who owns adjoining lots and a block building on the site, urged the council to consider alternatives to demolition that would spare his structure. "I don't wanna lose my building," Wallace said, noting he had invested about $27,000 in a new roof and repairs. Council members proceeded to vote to purchase the parcel; the motion passed on a roll call vote.

The council also approved several Parks Board recommendations for Lattaman Park. The council awarded a $223,954 construction contract to Hanks Excavating and Landscaping Inc. and a $16,000 construction-management contract to Gonzales Companies LLC; it…