Council for the Arts transfers payments for vacant lot on Main St.

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
The payments on an 83’x165’ vacant lot at 337 Main Street in downtown Belleville will no longer be the responsibility of the Belleville Area Council for the Arts after paperwork is complete sometime later this week.
The property was the site of a dry cleaners that burned several years ago.
About two years ago, the BACA unanimously voted to buy the property on a land contract from Russell Minges for $80,000. Plans were to construct an art center on the site.
Since then BACA has been paying just under $500 a month and $3,500 per year in property taxes for the vacant parcel. A five year balloon payment is coming up.
BACA decided to sell the property, but they could find no one who wanted to buy a vacant lot on Main Street.
Steve Jones, president of BACA, said they wanted to use the limited funds they had to provide services to the community, such as Music Lakeside, Art Affair on Main, Community Art Show.
Once the economy improves, Jones said they would like to create an art center downtown, but now is not the time. The monthly payments were difficult.
Through conversations, BACA found that Rodney Herald of The Lunch Box would be interested in buying the property, taking over the payments from BACA. Reportedly, he is considering whether to build a coffee shop or some other retail store.
A gentleman’s agreement was reached between Minges, Herald and BACA, which will be finalized this week, Jones said.
“We would have loved to have kept it, but we can’t afford to pay for the property and the things we have been doing for the community,” Jones said.