East Palestine OKs move for possible sale of Taggart building

By Virginia Ross

The building’s sale price is $82,000.

EAST PALESTINE — The city thinks it may have a buyer for the Captain Taggart building.

Council has given city Manager Gary Clark the go-ahead to enter into a purchase agreement with Sean Co. LP, a development company based in Aliquippa, Pa., for the sale of the former school building that serves as city hall.

According to the ordinance outlining some of the specifications of the agreement, the purchase price of the building is $82,000.

Council passed the measure, which gives Clark the authority to enter into the purchase agreement on an emergency basis, during its meeting Monday.

Jeffery Jones, vice president of development for the company, said the company had been waiting to start negotiations with the city for some time. He expects a lot of negotiating before the two sides can establish an agreement and eventual closing date on the deal.

Jones did not say what Sean Co.’s plans are for the building at 82 Garfield Ave.

Jones and Clark both noted that part of the agreement would involve the company’s constructing a smaller, more energy-efficient city hall in what is now a portion of the parking lot adjacent to the Captain Taggart building.

Officials said for the deal to move forward, the city’s costs for the new building would have to be close to offsetting the high utility costs of the three-story former school building, and the company would have to find the old building profitable as well.

Officials have said the building is too big and the utility costs too expensive for the city, which has been trying to sell the structure for several years.

Mayor Sonny Hull said four full-time employees and three part-time city employees work in the building, which also serves as a meeting place for council.

The building also houses offices for Social Concern and Meals on Wheels agencies. Clark said if the building changes hands, lease agreements with those programs likely would run out and not be renewed.

Clark said he has explored several options for the building, including turning it into affordable senior housing, but none have been feasible.