Price Tag for Davis to Purchase Old Shop ‘N Save Raises Concerns
Plus, Sen. Joe Manchin pays local property taxes after "delinquent" notice, and more.
Davis officials are working to reduce the price the town will pay to purchase the old Shop ‘N Save building and its adjacent parking lot after many residents complained that the town was poised to overpay for the property.
“There’s a lot of handwringing involved in that,” said town council member Bob North, referring to the potential purchase price.
North said the sellers’ original asking price for the property was $1.5 million, and many residents mistakenly believed the town was planning to pay that price. Negotiations led by Davis Mayor Al Tomson reduced the price to $1.25 million, North said.
North, Tomson, and others who support the purchase said the town desperately needs more public parking downtown.
“I’m definitely in favor of it,” North said. “I think the town really needs it. I think it’s a great idea.”
North and Tomson noted that local real estate prices have climbed rapidly in recent years. Tomson added that the new Davis Riverwalk project, a downtown property comparable in size to the old Shop ‘N Save site, was divided into residential lots that recently sold for a combined total of about $1.1 million.
Still, the tentative $1.25 million price tag for the old Shop ‘N Save property has some town officials pushing for a better deal. Critics have noted that the current property owners purchased it for less than a third of that amount less than five years ago.
“An asset to the community”
Keith Strausbaugh is the president of the Davis Building Commission, which is exploring the purchase of the property. He declined to discuss any dollar amounts.
“I think it would be great for the town to buy it — if we can get it for a good price and get financing,” Strausbaugh said.
Building Commission member Cindy Robeson agreed, saying the property would be “an asset to the community.” However, she added that she has heard concerns from many town residents about the price and she agrees that the town should negotiate a better deal than what’s currently on the table.
Strausbaugh said the Building Commission is gathering information and will seek the best deal possible for Davis taxpayers. He added that there will be an opportunity for the public to weigh in about the purchase details before a sale is finalized.
The Davis Building Commission met in closed session Wednesday to discuss the purchase of the old Shop ‘N Save property but took no action.
The current owner of the property, FSRM LLC, purchased the building at 533 William Avenue from Pete Johnson for $318,000 in October 2019, according to county records. FSRM purchased the adjacent parking lot from Johnson for $68,000 in August of 2020, records show.
FSRM includes Robin and Michael McClintock of Hendricks, along with two other investors involved with the property. Michael McClintock, speaking on behalf of FSRM, declined to comment on the sale, saying it would be inappropriate to publicly discuss the specifics of ongoing negotiations. However, he noted that he and the other owners have always supported public uses of the property, making it available for the Farmer and Artisan Market, the ArtSpring Festival, the annual Run For It foot race, and other events.
Funding sources
Mayor Tomson said in an interview with Country Roads News in March that he hoped to fund the purchase of the old Shop ‘N Save building and parking lot with a $3.9 million federal earmark that West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is pursuing for a variety of improvements in Davis.
However, Tomson acknowledged in an interview Monday that any federal funding, if granted, won’t arrive soon enough because the owners want to sell the property quickly. As a result, the town would have to borrow the money to fund the purchase. If the town receives the federal earmark later, that money would be used to pay off the bank loan, Tomson said.
North and Tomson said that if federal funding doesn’t materialize, Davis has a 1 percent local sales tax, among other potential funding sources, that could be used to pay off the loan to buy the old Shop ‘N Save property.
Town council member Jess Tucker said that if the purchase goes through, the building, which is in rough shape, would be used for storage but would eventually be torn down to expand the parking lot.
“In the long run it will be a great place for parking, which is something we need desperately,” Tucker said.
However, Tucker said he has concerns about pursuing the purchase with local money instead of a federal grant. “I’m not a big fan of trying to take more money from the residents,” Tucker said.
Davis homeowner Christy Hughes agrees. She said she has no objection to buying the property if the town can obtain federal money for the purchase, but if federal money isn’t available, she doesn’t want Davis residents to pay for it.
“I would rather see that money spent on something that would benefit local taxpayers rather than a parking lot for tourists,” Hughes said.
More News
Manchin Pays Local Property Taxes After “Delinquent” Notice
Tucker County included West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin in a list of property owners “delinquent for the non-payment of taxes for the year 2023,” prompting the senator to hastily make payment.
The delinquent amount was listed as $1,482. “It was brought to Senator Manchin’s attention on Wednesday and paid immediately,” said a spokesperson for Manchin. Online county tax records confirm the payment.
Manchin owns a vacation home in Deerfield Village in Canaan Valley. County records list the value of the property at $212,760.
He has announced that he will not run for reelection and he is serving his final year in the Senate.
Davis Considers Mandatory Fire Fee
The Davis Town Council is considering whether to impose a $3 monthly fee on town residents to provide additional funding for the local fire department. The money would be used for building and equipment upgrades, said Mayor Al Tomson.
The town currently requests a voluntary fire service payment of $2.50 monthly, which more than 60 percent of property owners pay, Tomson said.
A mandatory fee would boost the fire department’s ability to compete for grants because it would demonstrate strong community support for the department, Tomson said.
The fee would go into effect at the start of 2025 if it’s approved by the town council, Tomson said.
Davis Residents, Remember to Vote on Zoning
The town of Davis will hold a referendum on June 8 on whether to adopt a zoning ordinance. Supporters say the ordinance is necessary for the town to effectively manage the rapid growth that will inevitably come as more new residents, second homeowners, and businesses are drawn to the area.
Davis currently has no zoning ordinance.
The most controversial part of the zoning plan is a 24-unit limit on the number of short-term rentals allowed in residential neighborhoods.
Click here for previous coverage of the zoning ordinance, and click the “Download” button below for a plain-language summary of the 86-page Davis zoning ordinance.
Coming Soon: The Summer Fun Edition!
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Country Roads News will soon give you the details you need to enjoy the best that Tucker County has to offer as you plan your summer fun. Stay tuned!
We could easily have regulated and signed parking along streets for locally registered vehicles only, outside of certain hours etc. The town already registers vehicles via TC vehicle registration tax and stickers; this would be an easy step. Special parking rights for residents is done in many municipalities nationwide. Until I see this government lift a finger to regulate parking, I don't want to hear about spending 1.25M to buy more unregulated parking. They don't even manage the streets they now control. There is plenty of parking in Davis. It is simply unregulated in any way shape or form.
Why not pay for parking lot by charging tourists for parking? Locals could park for free. I bet there are apps that can make that work.