City to Buy Buildings on South Main for Redevelopment

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Some long-awaited good news was made official at Anderson City Council on Monday, as the city approved the purchase and demolition of the buildings on South Main Street across from City Hall.

The buildings occupying the 406-420 South Main Street addresses have been in the crosshairs for redevelopment for years, but little has come of the efforts.

In 2018, the city offered an incentive package for the redevelopment of the historic buildings, which once housed the Anderson Hotel. The city had “exhausted options with multiple developers” before the realization no progress was being made. The last developer removed the windows opening the buildings to the elements, further hastening the decline of the buildings.

The city will purchase the property for $100,000 and plans are to demolish the buildings as soon as possible while working on plans concerning what new structure(s) might be built on the site. While no timetable has been set, the demolition is expected before the upcoming repaving of Main Street.

Council will determine the cost of demolition as soon as possible and move ahead with the project.

Council members applauded the move at Monday’s meeting.

“This a good opportunity for downtown,” said Councilman Greg Steele.

Also on Monday night, council approved four water/wastewater/sewer projects which will be primarily funded by funds from the American Recovery Act. The most urgent is the $2.4 million project to replace the main water line from Tribble Street to Reed Street, which is part of underground infrastructure updates/upgrades which need to be completed before for the paving of Main Street along that same stretch. The current large water main is more than 40 years old and is subject to the lead/copper rules which require attention.

Council also approved $8.9 million for a Generostee Creek sewer relief line, $284,000 for the Lafayette/White Street Streambank Restoration project and $1.9 million North Street Drainage System Rehabilitation project as part of the meeting.