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Owners request to buy 'paper street' at 4 Lincoln Avenue; committee to check planning status and neighborhood rights
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Summary
Owners of 4 Lincoln Avenue asked whether the city would sell a largely unused, overgrown paper street (alley) that abuts their property. Staff said the committee must confirm whether any approved planning project requires keeping the corridor open, and explained that adjacent owners often have preferential rights; no sale decision was made.
The owner(s) of 4 Lincoln Avenue asked the Real Estate Committee whether the city would consider selling an overgrown “paper street” alley that runs from Lincoln toward Findlay, saying the alley is currently maintained only by the abutting property owners.
The property representative said the alley is treed and overgrown and currently only open up to their property because they maintain it, plow it, and regravel it. “We were approached ... by a couple of the neighbors who want access to the alleyway,” the speaker said, and described receiving some city no-parking signs intended to help adjacent neighbors gain access.
City staff told the committee there is a planning-board-approved project that improved the southern portion of the alley where it abuts Findlay, and staff must confirm whether any current plan requires the northern segment to remain public. Staff cautioned that the committee’s historical practice has been to favor conveyances when all adjacent owners jointly request to buy portion(s) of a street; selling to a single adjacent owner who would then grant easements can raise complex title and access problems and is often resisted.
Committee members discussed next steps: staff will locate and confirm planning-board approvals and project status for the corridor, verify whether any portion is needed for municipal access, and notify adjacent property owners as appropriate. No final sale or conveyance was decided in the recorded discussion.
