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Nonprofit seeks to buy former "Children of People" property; opioid-abatement funds discussed as partial support
Summary
A local recovery nonprofit told commissioners it wants to buy the former Children of People property, rehabilitate a sound building for office and recovery services, and seek funding including opioid-abatement committee support to cover part of the purchase and demolition of an on-site derelict house.
Representatives of a local nonprofit told the General Operations Committee Monday they are interested in buying the county-owned parcel at 117 E. Winchester Street (the former “Children of People” property) to convert part of the site into recovery services and supportive housing.
Megan Griffith, representing the Sumner Prevention Coalition, described plans to relocate the coalition’s office to the larger building on the parcel, to open meeting space for recovery groups and to install a naloxone vending machine for 24/7 access to overdose-reversal medication. She said the nonprofit would provide after-hours space for Alcoholics Anonymous and other recovery meetings, and would pursue grants available for community housing initiatives to fund demolition and construction of recovery housing for women and children.
Committee members and staff discussed valuations and financing. The property assessment cited in committee material showed a valuation around $186,100; committee staff noted the property could require demolition of a separate derelict house on the lot. The opioid-abatement committee discussed the purchase in committee remarks; finance staff and commissioners said an opioid-abatement contribution of roughly $90,000 had been mentioned in earlier materials and that some commissioners had agreed to consider a $100,000 contribution from the next disbursement. Commissioners and staff emphasized that any county funds for purchase would require formal appropriation and that the nonprofit could also pursue grants such as the state Community Housing Initiative (CHI) program.
Dustin, a county project staffer, confirmed the coalition has already explored CHI funding and other grants and said the coalition expressed interest in subdividing the parcel so the nonprofit could obtain the sound building while another entity could take the derelict house and address demolition. Commissioners urged the group to submit a formal purchase offer so the county could treat it as a complete package at the next commission meeting. No sale or donation was approved Monday; commissioners asked the nonprofit to provide a written offer and additional financial details for full-commission consideration in February.
Commissioners also discussed the county’s opioid-abatement fund and whether part of the fund’s next disbursement could be allocated to help offset the purchase price; committee comments indicated interest but no formal commitment. The committee agreed to leave the item in old business and asked the coalition to return with a purchase offer and a proposed financing plan.
