6-03-2014 2:45am

City Buys Bennett Street Property for $66,000

The City of Saline is buying two parcels of land at 109 E. Bennett St. for $66,000.

The property was owned by Clarke Keranen, who bought it for $20,700 Feb. 13. Previously, it was owned by Sal Randazzo.

City council voted 5-1 to authorize City

Manager Campbell to complete the purchase.

The motion was moved by Councilor David Rhoads and seconded by Councilor Dean Girbach.

“It's not often that an opportunity comes up to buy land which would create a link between two existing public areas in the community, and provides a place to have events without having to close down city streets,” Rhoads said.

Rhoads said the land will be leased to the Saline Area Historical Society for its use. The society runs the Depot Museum on adjacent property.

Girbach said purchasing the property finally gives the city access to the Depot Museum, owned by the city and managed by the historical society.

Mayor Brian Marl cast the lone no vote. He said he would have preferred an environmental assessment on the property, a former rail yard, before the purchase.

“That position will not prevail this evening and I won't be losing any sleep over it,” Marl said. “This parcel will greatly benefit our community and great improve the usability and accessibility of our Depot Museum, which is actually one of our city's finer parks.”

Councilor Jim Roth was absent.

Council authorized the purchase at a meeting where Reinhart Realtor Darby Kolano told city council that AHEPA National Housing Corporation, known for housing for low-income seniors and disabled persons, is interested in purchasing the city's 3.5 acre property at 207 Monroe St. The property is listed for $275,000.

Girbach noted the sale of the Monroe Street property will more than cover the cost of the Bennett Street property.

“We'll be making a profit off that which helps to offset the cost of this, so there's a wash. We're coming out on the best of both worlds with that park and this park. So this is a win-win situation,” Girbach said. The city plans to keep the easement to ensure access to People's Park.

During public comment, Mary Lirones said she thought the purchase was a positive step for Saline.

"I had hoped for many years this property could be purchased because the opportunity doesn't come this way often to have a nice, convenient pieces of land adjacent to two parks," Lirones said, noting the property links the Depot Museum to Henne Field. "The property has a nice grassy area for festivals. The city could close East Bennett Street with minimal inconvenience and have a really big area with Henne Field and the Depot Museum."

Kolano told city council the Monroe Street property would be more attractive if the city removed the structures on the land.

“If the city took that on, it might make it easier for a buyer to come in,” Kolano told council.

(Editor's Note -- We've corrected this story to change the photo and caption. The building beside the empty lot was not purchased -- Tran Longmoore)