Lincoln City Council
City receives one bid for properties on South Chicago Street
Will be asked to approve the at the February 5th voting meeting

 

[January 25, 2024] 

Tuesday, January 23rd the Lincoln City Council participated in the last committee of the whole meeting for the month. Because January is a five Monday month, there will be no meeting next week. The first meeting of February will be on the 5th and will be a voting meeting.

During the February 5th meeting, one item expected to be on the agenda will be a motion to approve a bid placed by Integrity Holdings LLC for the purchase of 112, 114, and 116 South Chicago Street in Lincoln.

The three properties were acquired by the city with the intent purpose of reselling them to someone who would clean up the properties and restore them to usable condition as retail or professional spaces.

Tuesday evening Mayor Tracy Welch said that the city had received a bid of $100 from Integrity Holdings, LLC., and that was the only bid received.

Zoning Officer Wes Woodhall explained the caveats within the bid package had included that at the buyers expense the condition of each address would be improved upon. He said that the bidder had addressed those caveats, providing a 120-day timeline for some of the most critical work.

The timeline includes within the first 60 days the rear of the structure at 116 will be addressed as that is the building that had collapsed a few years ago and has since gone unattended. After the partial tear down, the back of the building is to be made secure so animals and humans cannot gain entry.

The buyer will also address cleaning out the trash that is inside each of the three properties and making sure all openings are secured. Woodhall said that of the three, 116 holds the greatest amount of concern with holes in the tuckpointing, and of course, the damage to the back side of the structure.

In the 90 to 120 day plan, the new owner will work on the exteriors of the buildings with repairs to the roofs, tuckpointing and other projects while at the same time continuing to work on the interiors.

After that, Woodhall said the buyer is planning to have architectural work done on the inside and outside, and will be seeking permits for structural improvements throughout the process.

The item is expected to come to a vote on February 5th, but as is always the case, the council has the right to table any motion if they feel they are not prepared to make an informed decision.

[Nila Smith]