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Newton City Council approves purchase of two downtown parcels and authorizes property swap with U.S. Postal Service
Summary
At a Jan. 15 special meeting, Newton City Council approved buying 104 and 108 West D Street from Catawba County for $81,000, adopted related budget changes and authorized city officials to swap the parcels with the U.S. Postal Service for 114 West C Street to advance a downtown economic development project.
Newton City Council on Jan. 15 approved buying two downtown parcels at 104 and 108 West D Street from Catawba County for $81,000 and authorized a property swap with the U.S. Postal Service that would acquire 114 West C Street for a planned commercial and residential economic development project.
City Manager Sean Hovis told the council the city had previously been negotiating to buy 114 West C Street from the USPS but the agency withdrew from that sale about three weeks before closing. "The United States Postal Service did not want to get rid of vacant parking lots due to their possible expansion of postal fleet," Hovis said, explaining why staff sought alternate property across from the post office.
Hovis said staff identified the county-owned parcels next to the library at 104 and 108 West D Street. The combined tax value for the two parcels is listed at $56,200, and a Dec. 27, 2024 appraisal placed their combined value at $81,000. Hovis also cited a 2023 appraisal that valued 114 West C Street at $90,000; the combined acreage for 104 and 108 West D is about 0.49 acres versus 0.42 acres for 114 West C.
Council Member Beverly Danner moved to authorize the purchase of 104 and 108 West D Street from Catawba County for $81,000 and to adopt the accompanying budget ordinance amendment; Council Member Ed Sain seconded. The council approved the motion unanimously.
Hovis said the USPS agreed in principle to exchange 114 West C Street for the two D Street parcels and indicated it would not incur costs for certain transaction items. He asked the council to authorize the City Manager to enter and sign documents to complete the swap, to adopt a budget amendment of $30,000 to cover a Phase I environmental study, appraisal or survey and deed recording, and to authorize the mayor to execute any necessary documents.
Council Member Roy Johnson moved to authorize the City Manager to execute the swap documents, with Ed Sain seconding; the motion carried unanimously. The council also adopted the $30,000 budget amendment and authorized Mayor Jerry Hodge to execute closing documents, each by unanimous vote.
The meeting adjourned after the formal actions were recorded. The city did not provide a public timeline for completing the swap or closing the purchases at the meeting; staff will execute documents and proceed with required studies and recording as authorized by council.
