Wilmington City Council narrowly approved a private citizen’s bid to purchase a historic fire station from the City Thursday.
It’s a seeming reversal from a Council resolution last spring that approved a Wilmington firefighters' union effort to acquire the property, which the union said it wanted for a community center and museum.
Councilwoman Michelle Harlee says she felt uneasy about the process — but ultimately voted to support Dr. J. Douglas Patterson’s bid for the property.
“The doctor has stated that he’s going to do a historic renovation,” she said. “We did the RFP [request for proposals]. And most of all, it is going to increase the property value here.”
The property is on the National Register of Historic Places. Council members said Patterson plans to turn it into a single-family home.The News Journal reported on prior city plans to sell the property to an apartment developer.
Councilman Charles “Bud” Freel, who sponsored the ordinance and represents the district where the property is located, said Patterson has offered to pay $200,000 for the property, and is prepared to fund costly repairs.
Firefighter Paul Merrill commented at the meeting, saying he was saddened to hear Council’s discussion.
“We want to … have people know the history of what we’re all about and what has been done over the years,” he said. “We also want to make it educational. We came up with a good plan. We have the finances. I promise you, it will not be a social hall.”
Tense contract negotiations remain unresolved between the Wilmington firefighters’ union and the City— with the structure of shifts a major point of contention. Binding Interest Arbitration hearings are set for early next week.
