The City of Jefferson is preparing to sell two downtown properties.

The City is looking to sell the former Pizza Ranch building at 206 North Wilson Avenue to The Stitch in Jefferson. The City took ownership of the property in 2017, following a fire from January 2016 that resulted in the former owner being sentenced to probation for arson and criminal mischief. The purchase price is $78,000, with an additional $72,000 as part an economic development agreement as a forgivable loan. 

City Administrator Mike Palmer describes the details of the economic development agreement after the City brings a building to a plain slate.

“There’s more work that needs to be done after that like the electrical and then some of the tenant finish areas. If we kept the buildings, we’d continue on with that. So this is kind of our stopping off point. And then we approve the type of improvements they’re going to do and help pay for those up to a certain point, and those are forgivable loans. But then after that, they’re on their own. Typically our agreement is for ten years at a time.”   

  

The City is also ready to sell the former Angie’s Tea Garden at 100 East State Street to the female organization of Why Not Us for $40,000, with an additional $110,000 as part of a forgivable loan through their economic development agreement. The intent is for the organization to restore the restaurant that was forced to close in 2019 because of a burst water pipe from the upstairs abandoned apartment that flooded the main floor business. 

The Council approved at their most recent meeting on Tuesday to set the public hearings for April 27th before considering final approval to sell both properties.