Council reacquires Maple Street property

Almost four years after the original agreement was made, Creston City Council has taken back the empty property at 120 N. Maple Street from Maple Street Apartments, LLC.

In July 2020, the council approved a development agreement with Addam Wall and RANT, LLC. Wall told the council RANT intended to construct a new 18,000 square feet, three-story structure in the empty lot.

This plan eventually fell through, with the council approving a revised plan in December 2022 for the lot to become a privately-owned parking lot. The lot was meant to provide parking for apartments at 124 N Maple and Agnew Lofts apartments.

However, a year and a half later, the lot is still grass. Built into the agreement was a reversionary clause, stating the city could take back the property if the “developer has not commenced construction of the minimum improvements within 12 months of the closing date.

Councilmember Kiki Scarberry brought up the reversionary clause, suggesting the city take back the property.

“They are not currently using that lot and I would like the city to take it back so we can do something else with it,” Scarberry said. “The owner says he doesn’t even think he owns it because he didn’t develop it in the timeframe.”

The council voted 5-1 to pursue the reversionary rights of the agreement, effectively reacquiring the property for the city. Councilmember Richard Madison voted against the action. Councilmember Steve Wintermute was absent.

In other council news...

Jon Thomson spoke during public forum about the event in which his dog was attacked by another dog. According to Jessie Martin, owner of the aggressor, this was the first time her dog had shown any aggressive tendencies and asked for a second chance. The council chose to uphold the abatement notice for a potentially dangerous animal regarding Martin’s dog. This results in either the dog leaving city limits or being destroyed.

The council approved the special events application for the Fourth Annual Creston Jeep Fest, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at McKinley Park.