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Council hears update on Main Street property negotiations and railroad right-of-way constraints
Summary
City staff said a prospective buyer has emerged for several Main Street lots but demolition and railroad right-of-way rules complicate a coordinated streetscape project; councilors discussed timing, railroad rebuild triggers and the need to coordinate demolition and public works work.
City Administrator James Fincher and staff briefed the council about negotiations over Main Street properties and constraints posed by the adjacent railroad right-of-way.
Fincher said a prospective regional buyer, identified in the meeting as Aaron McMahon, has agreed to purchase several Main Street lots that are part of a broader revitalization plan. He said the deal would ideally align with a planned streetscape and roadwork project so the city and private parties would "rip it up once and make everybody mad for 18 months instead of doing it 3 times over the next" several years.
Councilors and staff also discussed buildings owned by Christie Wu (referred to in the meeting as Miss Wu or Christie) and separate church property. Fincher said the buyer understands demolition will be required where appropriate and that the buyer "wants to do Main Street all at the same time."
Several speakers raised a railroad-related constraint. Fincher said the railroad has a rule that if a building within its right-of-way is torn down, the owner must rebuild within a specified timeframe or face restrictions; during the discussion staff and councilors referenced timeframes including 90 days and 180 days and noted some uncertainty. Alderman Steve Smith, who the meeting identified as retired from the railroad, and staff said the railroad's right-of-way control also covers 100 feet measured from the center of the tracks, which can affect lots adjacent to Main Street. Fincher said that concern has caused some property owners to delay demolition while they seek buyers who will rebuild quickly.
Fincher said staff would continue to explore a possible workaround with the railroad and try to coordinate demolition, sale and city streetscape construction so work happens once rather than in multiple phases.
Ending
City staff said they will follow up with additional checks on railroad rules and continue negotiations with the prospective buyer; councilors did not take a formal vote on policy changes during the update.
