City to acquire old courthouse?

Maybe it would be a good idea to be at the Woodstock City Council meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, Nov. 2. It's Election Night. Will audience participation there be low?

The City seems ready to acquire the old courthouse, on the Woodstock Square. You know - the one that housed Courthouse Grille, where the sign remains but the business has been gone a long time. And the building that houses La Petite Creperie, which will stay if the City acquires the building.

Property taxes for 2008 of $47,552.81 were sold to Vista Securities and are earning $5.91/day interest at 5%. There are mechanics' liens and other debts on the property, including 2009 property taxes which are due for sale this month.

Plans look like the owner would like to donate it to Woodstock, if it can get out from under the debt and taxes. The letter in the packet to the City Council takes a Philadelphia lawyer to understand. The City may want to hurry, since 2009 property taxes are due to be sold this month. But there are many other details to be worked out, including abatement of 2009 and 2010 property taxes by School District D-200.

What would the City do with this building, if it acquired it? Will it move some City offices into it? What will be the cost of rehabilitation? I think I saw "adaptive re-use" and mention of the Historic Preservation Commission. Where have I heard those terms before?

Of course! Grace Hall. Or rather, now, that beautiful green space over on Route 47 where the little duplexes were supposed to spring up right after the rush to demolish that grand old building last spring.