HOLLIDAYSBURG - Blair County is selling the site of the former Eagles building in Altoona.
Commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday to accept the lone bid of $10,001 for the vacant lot at 1104-1106 12th Ave. to VICINI Realty LLC, based on a bid submitted by partners Michael J. Colombo Jr. and James Marcelli.
In a letter to the county, the pair said they want to use the site for parking to accommodate tenants of their neighboring properties, Labor Ready at 1103 13th Ave. and the former Panda's Bar, 1211 11th St.
Solicitor Nathan Karn advised commissioners Tuesday that they could accept the bid and sell the property or advertise again.
"If you thought you could get more money, you could readvertise," Karn said.
Commissioners Chairman Terry Tomassetti said the property was appraised at $9,900, and without additional responses to the bid advertisement, selling is the right move.
"We don't want to hold onto it," Tomassetti said. "We don't want to maintain it."
The county acquired the property several years ago for lack of real estate tax payments.
Because the long-vacant structure had deteriorated, making it a hazard, Altoona issued a demolition order for the four-story brownstone.
While county leaders initially objected to the county's taxpayers covering the cost of demolishing a building in the city, they made arrangements through the city for the building to be demolished in 2009.
The county covered the $279,000 expense in installments.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.
