Two dilapidated buildings in the uptown Mount Vernon district will be removed, thanks to a tax increment finance (TIF) agreement with developers looking to take ownership of the Sing-A-Long Bar and Grill building.
Mount Vernon city administrator Chris Nosbisch explained that the city was looking to approve taking on debt in TIF of $50,000 to assist the new owners in removing the buildings that reside south of the business on Hwy. 1 and First Street West.
The buildings share a back wall with the former Sing-A-Long Bar and Grill, and, in order to preserve the historic building, removal of the dilapidated buildings needs to be completed.
That removal is complicated because the buildings have asbestos, which needs separate remediation before demolition occurs.
Nosbisch said the agreement for the $50,000 in TIF will take care of the remediation of asbestos and removal of the buildings, and a separate development agreement for the uptown business space will come before the council at a later meeting. Taking action to for TIF funding was the important steps at the moment, as the buildings are hoped to be removed this winter before damage to the Sing-A-Long building gets worse.
Nosbisch has been in discussion with Linn County about these buildings for the past three months. The county has wanted to condemn the buildings, and this action by the new owners would remove the buildings from the uptown, appeasing the city and county concerns.
“The removal of the dilapidated buildings is the important thing for us right at the moment,” Nosbisch said. “It can be a long process to remove these buildings if a property owner isn’t doing this.”
Council member Paul Tuerler noted Mount Vernon’s history of historic preservation, and that removal of these buildings to protect a historic one is a benefit for the community.
“We need to invest in the things we cherish and believe in,” Tuerler said. “When I saw this was on the agenda, I was scared. But after hearing the argument, I can’t think of a better use of TIF than assisting with removing these dilapidated buildings and providing an opportunity to repair an essential building in uptown Mount Vernon on First and First. I speak strongly in support of this resolution.”
Council member Stephanie West agreed.
“These are prominent buildings along Hwy. 1 that drivers see,” West said. “This is something we should be doing with TIF.”
Nosbisch explained that TIF was originally created to help reduce blighted buildings and Mount Vernon has had very few of them over the years.
New owners Gregory Raupp and Jude Smith said they will be closing on the Sing-A-Long property on Dec. 2.
“We anticipate closing without an issue,” Raupp said. “Our first big issue to tackle is to remove these two back buildings to protect the Sing-A-Long Bar and Grill building, as they share a back wall. We want to get these buildings down as soon as we can, and are working with a contractor to have the asbestos remediated before removal.”
Raupp said other issues include tackling the roof on the Sing-A-Long Bar and Grill building, and Smith noted the couple will be looking to address removal of some of the paint to the exterior of the building in future improvements.
“We’re looking to do other things to help make this storefront spectacular,” Smith said. “I’m a preservationist, and I’m excited that the Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission is in the community.”
Raupp and Smith will make the upstairs apartment their retirement abode.
“We’re trying to do the critical things for this important building to the uptown,” Raupp said.
New owners for the former Sing-A-Long Bar and Grill building have plans for the status of two dilapidated buildings south of the building.