Investor urges Belleville to hold absentee owners accountable in historic brewery district

A Belleville investor told the City Council on March 2 that vacant and neglected properties in the West Main historic brewery district are harming nearby businesses and neighborhoods and asked the city to hold property owners accountable.

Don Bailey, who said he has worked in the local restaurant and music business for decades and has invested in nearby properties, said the former Maxwell’s building at 923 West Main was purchased in July 2021 and has been left abandoned since late 2021. Bailey described repeated incidents he has handled — trespassing, broken windows, drug use, feces on his property and a vehicle with expired plates remaining on the street — and praised the city and police for responding when he called, but said ongoing inaction by property owners hurts efforts to revitalize the brewery district.

Bailey urged the council to consider stronger enforcement or remedies for owners who “sit on” properties without developing them and asked for suggestions from city staff; he said he is investing in nearby properties and is willing to help with neighborhood revitalization.

Why it matters: Abandoned or neglected properties can depress investment, create public‑safety and sanitation challenges and discourage new businesses and visitors in a district the speaker characterized as a key part of downtown recovery.

Next steps: Bailey said he has worked with city staff and police and encouraged continued collaboration; the council did not make an immediate motion in response to his comments during public participation.