Duluth City Council deadline passes; no buyer emerges for county jail |
| The old county jail may again be headed for a walk down the Green Mile. Despite St. Louis County spending nearly a quarter-million dollars over the past six months to maintain the jail and work to find a buyer, so far no one has stepped forward with a legitimate offer. By: Brandon Stahl, Duluth News Tribune The old county jail may again be headed for a walk down the Green Mile. Despite St. Louis County spending nearly a quarter-million dollars over the past six months to maintain the jail and work to find a buyer, so far no one has stepped forward with a legitimate offer. That's bad news for people hoping to keep it open, as the county has again applied for a permit to tear it down. The last time the county sought a demolition permit, it was denied by the city Heritage Preservation Commission and then by the Duluth City Council. That could change this time. In April, a majority of councilors felt the county hadn't done enough to sell the jail and gave it until Nov. 15 to make a good-faith effort to market the property before it could again seek demolition. The county turned to local real estate company ReMax 1. But listing agent Gary Kalligher said there have been only 10 to 12 calls on the property and only two parties who have paid the $250 to tour the building. Of those showings, only one expressed interest in obtaining the financing to buy the building. But, Kalligher said, that was more than a month ago, and ReMax 1 hasnft heard from that party since. This despite the asking price of only $60,000. The problem, Kalligher said, is that potential buyers aren't seeing a way to profit from the property. "The amount to renovate the property associated with getting rents or incomes in return hasn't been enough to justify anybody taking the plunge," Kalligher said. Kalligher said he still holds out hope that a buyer will be found, as the county extended its contract with ReMax 1 through April. But the process to get the demolition permit also will proceed. Expect the Heritage Preservation Commission to deny the permit. "It"s against our laws to allow the demolition," said HPC Chairwoman Penny Clark. "We'll stand the same ground on it." It's unclear, however, what will happen if the application reaches the council. Councilor Jeff Anderson, who helped block the jail's demise and wrote the resolution giving the county six months to find a buyer, said he's now likely to change his vote. "I'll vote to allow the county to move forward with demolition," he said. "I believe the county has done its due diligence." But the county will face three new council members next year, at least two of whom, Patrick Boyle and Dan Hartman, went on record during their campaigns as opposing the demolition. Hartman said he doesn't want to see the jail torn down, saying he doesn't believe the county has done its due diligence to sell it. "Look at how long it's taken to find someone to take over the armory," he said. "It's been quite a few years." Hartman said he wants to educate the public on the significance of the jail, which is registered as a national landmark. "We're very fortunate the city still has these landmarks," he said. |