City purchases corner-lot property from Dr. Wainman

Where once a two-story eyesore stood in the heart of Greencastle, an opportunity now awaits just a block off the courthouse square, thanks to Greencastle Redevelopment Commission action.

The corner property at Indiana and Columbia streets in Greencastle -- where this dilapidated house was demolished in August 2013 -- has been purchased for the City of Greencastle by the Redevelopment Commission.

In a unanimous vote following a motion by Gary Lemon, the commission Tuesday evening approved the purchase of a quarter-block of now-vacant property just north of the downtown from Dr. Perry Wainman.

It is the site where a crumbling two-story house had been cobbled together in its latter years with mostly fiberboard and plywood if not also chicken wire and duct tape.

The three-parcel piece of property was purchased by the Redevelopment Commission for $72,500 -- the average of two independent real estate appraisals -- City Attorney Laurie Hardwick explained.

The site at the northeast corner of Columbia and Indiana streets is just across Columbia Street from an existing the city parking lot.

The newly acquired property, Hardwick noted, will likely be used for a future parking lot or potential development.

Dr. Wainman acquired the site and had the dilapidated house torn down in August 2013 when a crew from Spiker Excavating turned it into a pile of dust and rubble in a little more than an hour.

After that, the property has been routinely used by contractors working within the downtown, including those involved in the Stellar Grant work and the more recent sidewalk improvement effort.

Joining Lemon in voting for the property acquisition were commission members Drew Brattain, Gwen Morris and Lottie Barcus.