Eldorado business owner may renovate derelict building on Maple Avenue

Alto Markets owner interested in former store on Maple Avenue

The owner of Alto Markets in Eldorado is interested in acquiring and rehabilitating a derelict, 2 1/2-story former convenience store with upstairs apartments at 2900 Maple Ave. for food production and storage, a takeout business and a convenience store, according to Eric Luchansky, the city's community development director and staffer for the Redevelopment Authority.

The building is brick, with steel beams, fronting on Maple and running all the way back to the alley, and it's in "very bad shape," with seriously leaking roof that should be repaired before winter -- although it's structurally sound and "a great building, if you look past the deficiencies," Luchansky told the authority board.

Although the building is assessed at $120,000, the authority may donate it to the potential new owner and may also consider "participating" in the cost of replacing the roof and cleaning out the structure, according to officials, who made no decisions at a recent meeting.

In recent times, the authority's policy is to rehabilitate as many buildings as possible, rather than letting them be demolished, to help bolster the city's property tax base.

Because many blighted buildings have physical deficiencies, title deficiencies and liens that render them unfeasible financially for the private sector, the authority has been providing help, to get them to the point where they become attractive for that sector.

Luchansky got a quote of $87,000 from a contractor to replace the roof of the Maple Avenue structure, but will seek additional quotes for that work -- as well as a quote from a demolition contractor to simply remove the roof, leaving the potential new owner to deal with replacing it.

The authority will seek a formal development proposal from Alto Market owner Travis Seymore.

That would entitle Seymore to go to the Zoning Hearing Board for any necessary ordinance waivers, officials said.

Parking is a potential issue, with removal of a parking prohibition on 29th Street next to the structure, between Maple and the alley in back, a possible solution, Luchansky said.

That would create spaces for employee vehicles -- and for the vehicles of customers, most of whom would be in and out of the building quickly, according to Luchansky.

Seymore may want some of the equipment that was left in the building from the previous ownership, Luchansky said.

Seymore's proposal fits with the city's comprehensive plan, and if carried through to completion, the facility could become an ornament for that "walkable neighborhood," according to Mayor Matt Pacifico, an authority board member.

The building was previously owned by late businessman Lou Grillo, whose daughter donated it to the authority.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.