By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green officials are taking steps to purchase land for public restrooms by Wooster Green, parking areas on South Church Street and the home of the Four Corner Center on South Main Street.
On Monday evening, City Council will hear the first reading of an ordinance for the issuance of $890,000 in bonds for buying four parcels of land on South Church and South Main streets.
One parcel is at 119 S. Church St., located just south of the police station. The former Huntington Bank Branch location has been closed for several years, but has drive-up ATM units. The city is interested in building bathrooms there that will serve those using Wooster Green as well as visitors to the downtown area.
In addition, the location has been eyed by the city for years as property that could be used to expand the police station. While there are no immediate plans for an expansion, the addition of an improved safety dispatch center is one of the city’s long-term capital plans.
The out-of-state owner of this property recently contacted city officials to discuss the building. The landowner also owns a nearby parking area behind Ben’s and the building at 130 S. Main St. – the current home of the Four Corners Center.
According to the council agenda, the property owner said that all the parcels will be sold together.
While city officials are not interested in owning the Four Corners Center building, they recognize the community value of that site. Located there are the Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Downtown BG, and Economic Development office. The lease for that building expires on Dec. 5, 2020.
So, if the city acquires the LLC that owns the building and holds the lease, it can take ownership of the lease – ensuring no changes for the tenants.
City officials then plan to sell that building prior to its lease expiring, with a provision that the Four Corners Center be given a lease arrangement for the building with a rental amount set.
The cost for the mini-bank area, parking lot behind Ben’s, and building at 130 S. Main St. will be $730,000.
But there’s more …..
The building at 123 S. Church St., currently housing Bowling Green Mirror and Glass, owned by the Bortel family, plus the parking lot to the west of that building are also being sold.
An unspecified downtown business owner has decided to purchase that building and the parking spaces to the south of that building. However, the buyer has no interest in the other parking area located between the Huntington ATM location and parking lot behind Ben’s.
So the prospective new owner is willing to work with the city so that the purchase can be split, leaving the city with the large parking area that will connect the other two property purchases along South Church Street. The cost will be $325,000.
If all the purchases go as planned, the city will work on reconfiguring the parking lots for improved traffic flow, driveway consolidation and improved aesthetics. Because of lease arrangements on the land, substantial work can’t be done on the property until after the leases expire in late 2020.
