City staff briefed council on Nov. 19 about the proposed purchase of the Goodyear property at 406 Washington, including a draft purchase-sale agreement, financing plan and an environmental phase I report delivered to the city that day. The agreement would have used up to $1,666,812 in debt with a $1,000,000 down payment proposed to come from CRA land-acquisition funds.

Council members expressed concern about two appraisals submitted during the acquisition process: one land-only appraisal that valued the site in the low hundreds of thousands (around $460,000) and a second appraisal of the parcel as improved (land, building and site improvements) in the multi-million-dollar range (about $2.6–2.8M). Members worried the city could take on unknown remediation liability for a tire-and-auto property with an operating history dating to the 1960s.

Councilwoman Wall moved to terminate the purchase contract during the remaining due-diligence period; that motion failed on roll call. Following extensive public comment and questions from council regarding remediation estimates, appraisal methodology and comparables, Vice Mayor Bailey moved (and council approved) an extension of due diligence to Feb. 27, 2026. The extension is conditioned on the seller signing an addendum; if the seller refuses, the contract will terminate. Council asked staff to commission a third appraisal and to complete a Phase II invasive environmental study (with the city stopping short of paying for remediation itself). Council also directed that if Phase II produces adverse findings the city will not move forward to Phase III (mitigation/cleanup) and will reassess whether to proceed.

The companion CRA agenda item that would allocate $1,000,000 toward the down payment was deferred at the CRA meeting held later that night.

What's next: Staff will arrange Phase II testing, secure a third appraisal and build in a minimum review window for council/staff to analyze results once received; the Feb. 27 extension provides calendar time for those steps but the council instructed staff to avoid unnecessary delays.