CRESTVIEW — The city's next firehouse could stand on three acres of land fronting Old Bethel Road following the City Council's unanimous direction to city officials to start investigating the property.
Real estate agent Melissa Simpson of the Machado-Elliot Commercial Real Estate Group, who represents the property owner, said the owner has offered the property to the city for $70,000, which is below market value.
Currently, Simpson said, the average price per acre in the Old Bethel Road area is $40,910, which has increased from $33,940 in the last three months.
"The only three-acre lot that has sold within the past year sold for $252,000, or $44,613 per acre," Simpson stated in a letter to the council.
Simpson said she believes at the current rate, the value of the land could increase a further $14,000 by the end of the year, selling for $164,730.
SITE INSPECTION
The property sits in a bend in Old Bethel Road west of Staff Road. Public Works Director Wayne Steele said he and Fire chief Joe Traylor inspected the site.
"The biggest problem I saw is it being on a curve, and the problem it presents with traffic, but we have ways of working out those problems with lights and signage, and we feel the county would be a partner with us in allowing us to work it out," Steele told the council.
Steele said all utilities except for sewer service is available, so the fire station, which would be the smallest of the city's current stations, would have to have a septic system.
Council President Joe Blocker said he has been approached by other real estate agents offering properties near but not on Old Bethel.
Deputy Fire Chief Tony Holland said after much research, Old Bethel remains the preferred location.
"We have looked around but being on Old Bethel gives us the option of sending a truck east or west on (U.S. Highway) 90, or out to (State Road) 85," Holland said. "Looking at it tactic wise, it would give us better options to be on Old Bethel."
BUDGETED MONEY
City Clerk Betsy Roy confirmed that the fire department has money budgeted for land acquisition should an opportunity arise.
"We have an opportunity for property at a price that's super fair," Councilman Shannon Hayes said. "We've been looking for land. We have it. The legal technicalities will be resolved prior to handing a check to the people. That's why I'm moving forward."
Councilman Bill Cox then moved to have the city purchase three acres of the4.9-acre parcel with the stipulation that the city approves the environmental assessment, land surveys and title search. Hayes seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview council approves moving forward with firehouse land purchase