Council authorizes listing and marketing strategy for 131 S. Main Street; targets $750,000 listing price

Mount Holly City Council directed staff to list the city‑owned property at 131 South Main Street and approved a marketing plan that includes a broker listing and optional paid marketing upgrades, with a target listing price of $750,000.

City economic development staff said the building has remedial issues described in a Creach and Associates property‑condition report (that can be requested through the economic development office) and that tours are available to prospective buyers. Staff and broker Sam Klein recommended marketing the property broadly to regional commercial brokerage channels, including CoStar and LoopNet; Klein said a “gold” placement on LoopNet/CoStar (an advertised premium slot) costs about $495 per month and would expand exposure to investor and brokerage audiences.

Council discussion focused on whether to set a firm marketing period and how to manage offers. The city attorney and staff advised that the process under North Carolina General Statute 160A‑269 allows the city to solicit, negotiate or accept an offer and then, if the council proposes to accept a specific offer, to advertise it for upset bids. The council agreed that staff would sign a listing agreement with the broker, market the property for a 30‑day period, and bring any offers to council as they are received and again as a consolidated update after the 30‑day window. “It’s a very important piece of downtown,” broker Sam Klein said, urging broad regional marketing.

Councilmember motion language and vote: Councilmember Huff moved that the city “move forward with MECA, and Sam Klein marketing the property, going with the marketing upgrades that were discussed, previously with the gold level, to maximize that and start at a listing price of $750,000.” The motion was seconded by Councilmember Shoemaker and the mayor announced the motion passed. The transcript records the motion, the mover and the seconder and the mayor’s announcement that the motion passed; the meeting record does not include a clear roll‑call tally in the audio transcript excerpt.

City staff said no formal written bids had been received before the meeting; several potential buyers had viewed the property and expressed interest. Staff and legal counsel noted the council is not required to accept any bid and that conditions such as environmental remediation requirements can be included in the advertised sale terms, but the council cannot dictate the future occupant or use beyond conditions that are legally permissible under state law. The adopted course of action directs staff to finalize the listing agreement, market the property with the broker and return to council with offers received and a 30‑day consolidated report.