Lowell council’s challenge: What to do with house?

By DEAN REA/The Herald — What to do with the house at 205 E. Main St. is a question that has stumped Lowell council members.

Should the city fix it up as a rental, tear it down, burn it, clean it up and offer it for sale as commercial property?

These were some of the questions raised during the March 2 council work session.

The three-bedroom, one-bath 1,240-square-foot house was built in 1940.

The city purchased two parcels, including the one where the house stands, on Sept. 25, 2020, for $243,500. The owner who lived in the house was given the option to remain there until Feb. 21.

The purchase ensured that the city now owns all of the property in the downtown block framed by East Main Street, West Boundary Road and Pioneer Street, most of which is a grassy field.

The property also fits within a commercial zone described in the city’s development plan.

During the March 2 work session, city councilors asked City Administrator Jeremy Caudle for a recommendation on what to do with the house.

It apparently won’t bite the dust soon, Caudle said during a subsequent interview. A business may want to utilize the building in some way as the city seeks ways to develop the tract commercially, he said.

A more detailed report and recommendation are expected during the next council meeting March 16.