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City approves purchase of tax-sale parcel next to previously acquired property on West Thirteenth
Summary
The council approved purchase of the tax-sale parcel at 1619 West Thirteenth Street for $5,000, adding it to an adjoining house the city previously acquired; staff said the combined purchase (about $14,000 total) aims to return the lot to usable housing given high repair or demolition costs for privately held blighted properties.
The North Platte City Council voted Aug. 5 to approve an agreement to buy a tax-sale parcel at 1619 West Thirteenth Street from Matthew Sobolewski for $5,000. The city previously purchased the adjacent house parcel after identifying the properties as difficult-to-remediate holdings; staff said combining the lots will make a more usable residential site.
City staff told the council the assessed value for the house parcel previously purchased was $9,742 and that the purchase price for the Sobolewski parcel is $5,000, making the total city acquisition roughly $14,000 for the combined area. Staff said county tax-sale records and title research revealed the lots were held in separate assessor parcels (east and west halves of Lot 8), prompting the separate purchase.
Councilmembers and staff described the acquisition as part of an existing city program to identify properties that have deferred maintenance or are otherwise not economical for private investment. Staff said demolition and rehabilitation costs often exceed market value for small residential lots, making targeted city acquisition and redevelopment a tool to return parcels to productive use. The council also said the city is preparing an online resource showing interior photos and condition reports for similar properties to help explain acquisition choices.
The motion to approve the sale agreement and authorize the mayor to sign carried on the council floor following a public hearing; councilmembers noted opportunities to combine the assessor parcels into a single, standard-sized lot for future sale or rehab.
