Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Lease topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council weighs one-year lease extension and buying option for Historical Society parking parcel
Summary
The Washington Historical Society seeks a one-year extension of a lease on a 75-foot strip of the 104 South High parking lot and asked the city to raise annual payment from $200 to $1,000; council debated negotiation, maintenance responsibilities, securing parking for the square and whether to pursue purchase instead of continued lease rollovers.
The Committee of the Whole discussed whether to extend a lease on a portion of the parking lot at 104 South High that the city purchased in December 2016.
Staff told council the city owns most of the lot but the western 75 feet remained with the private owner at the time and later transferred to the Washington Historical Society; a lease that the city entered into in 2016 transferred with that property. The historical society asked for a one-year extension and to raise the city’s annual payment from $200 plus property tax to $1,000 plus tax.
John Alfond explained that the lease requires the city to resurface the lot (done in 2017) and that the historical society now asks for an increased base payment. "There are 11 full spaces there," Alfond said, noting the city's recent maintenance and snow-plowing responsibilities under the agreement.
Some alderpersons said the city should aim to retain the parking near the square and that a $1,000 payment is reasonable given market rates and the city's maintenance duties. "I think it's fair," Alderperson Martin said, and suggested seeking a longer-term option if the council accepts the higher payment. Alderperson McIntyre urged staff to explore whether the historical society would sell the parcel, saying ownership would give the city long-term certainty.
Others urged negotiation and an annual review or exit clause to avoid automatic rent escalation. Council members generally expressed a direction to check with the historical society about selling the parcel and to pursue a lease with clearer terms and possible longer duration if buying is not immediately viable.
No formal lease was approved at the meeting; staff said they have direction to continue discussions with the historical society and consult the city attorney about options.
