Council asks city solicitor to explain delays on multiple municipal property sales

The council referred a motion on July 17 asking the City Solicitor to appear before the Committee on City Property to explain delays in completing purchase and sale agreements for former municipal properties.

Councilors said two fire stations — Fire Station Number 3 (834 Kenton Street) and Fire Station Number 11 (754 Brock Avenue) — were the subject of requests for purchase and sale agreements awarded to private developers (Converge Development, South Coast Investments). At the same time, councilors asked that Police Station Number 2 be added to the review. Councilor Naomi Carney and others told the council the items had been discussed in City Property committee meetings in February and that developers are waiting for finalized agreements to obtain financing. “Six months for a boilerplate purchase and sale? I don’t get it,” Councilor Carney said.

Councilor Carney said developers have already spent money seeking financing and need finalized purchase and sale language to proceed; councilors emphasized a desire to place the properties back on the tax rolls and to remove maintenance and insurance burdens from the city’s balance sheet.

The motion to refer the matter to the Committee on City Property and to request the solicitor’s attendance passed. Committee chair and administration staff will schedule the hearing; developers and their counsel may be asked to appear.

Why it matters: Councilors said delays have stalled potential redevelopment, tax revenue and repair of vacant city properties. The council directed the solicitor’s office to provide an explanation for the processing delays and to produce the agreements or the outstanding legal points preventing execution.

What happens next: The Committee on City Property will invite the City Solicitor and development teams to explain outstanding issues and timeline for execution.