Victoria council opens public hearing on disposition of 1220 Main Street parcels; called meeting set on 1118 Main Street eminent domain

The Victoria Town Council on April 8 opened a public hearing on the proposed disposition and acquisition of multiple parcels identified as Tax Map 03345-01-16A-1,2,3,4,5,6 and 8 (known collectively as 1220 Main Street), then assigned the Property Committee to return a recommendation.

Councilmember Ronald Mattox moved, and Councilmember Johnnie Brame seconded, that the hearing be opened to receive comments on the proposed disposition and acquisition. The motion carried. During the hearing, Councilmember Chris Gill said he does not want to sell the property "as is" and urged cleaning the lot and using it for parking; Mattox said the Property Committee is coordinating with the Industrial Development Authority and council expressed concern about further blight.

Mayor Allen D. Smith assigned the Property Committee and Town Manager Rodney Newton to develop recommendations on the 1220 Main Street parcels and return them to council. Separately, Smith announced a called meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at the Victoria Municipal Building to hold a public hearing on condemnation and eminent domain for blighted property at 1118 Main Street and to consider an ordinance on eminent domain.

Council closed the public hearing on 1220 Main Street by motion (Mattox/Brame), and took no immediate ordinance action on 1220 at the April 8 meeting. The council’s next steps are the Property Committee’s report on 1220 Main Street and the April 22 public hearing on 1118 Main Street, where condemnation and an eminent-domain ordinance will be considered.