Enid city commissioners approved $1.75 million to purchase the former Homeland building, 3828 W. Garriott, during its regular meeting Tuesday.
The building has been vacant since the grocery store closed in 2005. Commissioners approved the purchase, then appropriated the money into the Enid Municipal Authority Fund, later transferring it into the Enid Economic Development Authority fund.
City Manager Eric Benson said Tuesday afternoon the city plans to sell the building to someone for development.
“There are people out there who are shopping for a building like that. In its current stance, the owner is not inclined to sell in a manner that makes it attractive to other owners. If we buy it, we are in control of its retail development destiny,” Benson said.
Benson said he expects to sell the building for what the city paid for it or for a small profit, based on market research. In any event, he said, the store no longer would sit as an unusable element in a prime location in the city.
“We’re trying to lead. We’ve had interest in the building several times in the past, but the owners were not inclined to make the move. But we can take development action,” Benson said.
The building is owned by HAC Inc. Benson said the property never can be another grocery store under its present ownership, but when the city owns the property, it can decide what the strategy is.
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