Marshall Mitchell: Mitchell City Council to consider purchasing Main Street lot for $1
Mar. 16—MITCHELL — During its regular meeting on Monday, March 17, the Mitchell City Council will consider an agreement with downtown developer John Adamo to purchase the empty gravel lot at 301 N. Main St, on the corner of Third Avenue for $1.
The city plans to purchase the property to turn the gravel lot into a parking lot, with Adamo retaining a corner portion of the parking lot.
The parking lot is part of Tax Increment District (TID) No. 26, which was approved by the Mitchell City Council for $1.2 million in 2021 for the Mitchell Area Development Corporation (MADC), which owned the Old Crafty Fox building before MADC sold the building to Adamo. Over the last three years, $15,917.80 has been collected through TID No. 26, according to city of Mitchell Finance Officer Michelle Bathke.
Adamo owns a number of buildings on Main Street, including the Woolworth building and the Old Crafty Fox building at Third Avenue, which are on opposite corners of North Main Street and share a line of sight with the proposed parking lot. The lot became gravel after a building slowly crumbled and was
finally demolished in 2019.
The fourth corner at Third Avenue and Main Street is a park-like area with trees and benches next to the Diamond Store.
In fall 2021, Adamo's
plan for the lot included turning the retail space into a parking garage, and commercial retail space.
In late 2022, the plan lost the parking garage, but included
57 parking spaces with benches and greenspace
for Adamo's retail patrons and tenants. In mid-2024,
streetscape improvements reduced parking along Main Street at Third Avenue,
reducing available
parking for Main Street businesses.
Now, the city is taking on downtown parking, and the cost of installing a parking lot.
"Originally, they were going to use that for parking for themselves, and now they're selling it to the city, for the city to do parking for not just them, but for anybody else," City Planner Mark Jenniges said.
According to Jenniges, there is enough parking downtown for residents and retail patrons of the Woolworth and Old Crafty Fox buildings without the gravel lot becoming a parking lot.
"You've got city parking behind Lucky's, you've got it across and in front of the movie theater. There's ample parking down there. You may have to walk," Jenniges said.
TID No. 26 covers eight city blocks from North Rawley Street to North Lawler Street, and from Fourth Avenue to Second Avenue. The estimated value loss from the parking lot area not being developed is an estimated $27,784 per year in tax revenue, or $555,680 over the 20-year lifespan of the tax district,
according to 2021 estimates.
The agreement can be read on the city's website.
The city will also consider an easement agreement regarding the Charlie's Shoe Repair building, to allow it to be 34 inches past the property line of the city-owned parking lot at the corner of North Main Street and Second Avenue.
The Mitchell City Council will also consider sponsoring a community block grant for LifeQuest's mini home village, renaming the Kelley property, and will consider approving various agreements, change orders, and grant applications.
The council will also have the first reading of Ordinance #O2025-02, which is for supplemental appropriations for the city of Mitchell's 2025 fiscal year.
A full agenda can be
found on the city's website.
The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 17 at 612 N. Main St.
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