City to Sell Calhoun Road Properties

The city plans to raze one of two Calhoun Road homes it bought to settle a condemnation lawsuit and to sell that lot and a second home purchased.

Aldermen this week approved a staff recommendation to demolish the home at 835 S. Calhoun Rd., regrade that lot and hire a real estate broker to sell the lot and a home at 785 S. Calhoun Rd.

The city bought the homes from challenging the city's removal of their Calhoun Road driveways during a road widening project and requirement that the two share a driveway off a different road.

The city paid Craig and Danielle Husar $260,000 for their home and $41,500 in legal and appraisal costs. It paid Robert and Karen Marsh $235,000 for their home and $49,500 in costs. Each family also was paid $3,000 for moving expenses, for a total of $592,000.

After reviewing the viability of resale and building options, city staff concluded the home at 835 S. Calhoun Rd. would need "significant investments in mechanical systems and structural repairs" in order to sell it, according to a memo by City Finance Director Robert Scott. The city likely would not recoup those costs in a sale, staff said.

They said the home should be razed, lot regraded and sold as a vacant residential lot. The second house at 785 S. Calhoun Rd. is in "good condition and could be marketed at any time," Scott said.