CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Cleveland City Council is asking businessman Dale Hughes to make an offer on property near Interstate 75 after the city first considered simply abandoning the right of way and allowing Hughes to acquire the property at no charge.
The council meets again on Monday and hopes to have an offer from Hughes by then.
The 0.42 acres is bordered by I-75, Ellis Circle and Paul Huff Parkway.
Hughes owns a tract adjacent to the otherwise landlocked parcel. Previously the city rezoned the area to allow commercial development.
“We have to pay for property when we acquire it,” said Councilman and Vice Chairman Avery Johnson.
Councilwoman Bambi Hines asked if anyone had approached Hughes since the Council delayed a vote two weeks earlier.
Councilman Richard Banks said he has talked to Hughes. Banks said he expressed his concern that simply abandoning the right of way to the property would set a precedent for city staff. In the future, someone else may ask for the same thing in an expensive commercial area, he said.
“I know this would create jobs and add to the tax base,” said Councilman David May. “But I would also like to see some value coming back to the city.”
City Attorney John Kimball said rights-of-way abandonment is usually for small parcels. The local government gives up its right-of-way after determining there is no need by the general public for the site.
In this case, he said, the site is landlocked except for Hughes’ adjacent property to Paul Huff Parkway; it has utility easements running through it and is otherwise unsuitable for building. Also, he said, even with the abandonment, the city would still have enough right-of-way to add a third lane to Paul Huff in the future.
No appraisal or value has officially been placed on the site. But city staff has estimated it could be worth $42,000 to the owner.
After Monday, the council could still seek an appraisal.