Town of Potsdam shuffling properties it owns
POTSDAM — The Town Council on Tuesday night purchased an Elm Street property and put one on Lawrence Avenue up for sale.
Supervisor Marie C. Regan signed documents presented by Francis P. Cappello, town attorney, closing on a deal with Kip E. and Kevin J. Blanchard to purchase the old Sigma Pi fraternity house across from the Potsdam post office at 18 Elm St.
The purchase price was $61,781.74, according to Mr. Cappello. He said the cost includes $60,000 for the land and building and $1,781.74 for tax prorations, deed recording and real property transfer.
Mr. Cappello told the board there will be additional costs associated with razing the old fraternity house and readying the lot for future construction.
The town is hoping to build a new courtroom complex on the site, according to Mrs. Regan.
She said a recent aerial photograph taken of the property shows room for more than 20 parking spaces in addition to the building itself.
In addition to closing on the old Sigma Pi property, the board voted unanimously to begin soliciting purchase offers on 29 acres of land the municipality owns on Lawrence Avenue next to A.A. Kingston Middle School.
Mrs. Regan said the town plans to use money from the Lawrence Avenue sale to defray the cost of its 18 Elm St. purchase.
"I would like to accept the highest responsible bid and have the option to not accept any bid if we don't think it is fiduciarily responsible," Mrs. Regan said.
The Town Council agreed to accept bids on the Lawrence Avenue property until March 26. The bids will be opened during a special council meeting at 4 p.m. March 29 at the town hall, 35 Market St.
The town purchased the vacant tract of farmland from Violet A. Cook in 2006 for $40,000.
Town officials originally hoped to build a $3.2 million, three-story municipal complex on the site, but voters rejected the initiative in April 2008.
In early February, the council declared the parcel "surplus property" and announced its intention to put the land up for sale.
