Commission approves sale of city-owned house at 229 State Street to long-term tenant

The Elkhart City Redevelopment Commission on Oct. 14 approved the sale of 229 State Street, a house the city acquired under a prior Neighborhood Stabilization Program, to a long-term tenant who has signed a purchase agreement.

Staff said the city has been divesting itself of residential rental properties and highlighted a recent sale of a six-unit apartment building to La Casa. The tenant at 229 State Street had a lease-to-own arrangement and is now positioned to purchase the property under the terms attached to the resolution.

"This is a house that the tenant has lived in for a very long time, and her rent has become kind of a lease to own type thing. So she's in a position now to be able to convert herself from a tenant to an owner. So she has signed the purchase agreement for this home," a staff member said.

Commissioners approved the sale by voice vote.