Plain City Council is considering another business interested in leasing the village’s former municipal properties.
During the Monday meeting, Village Administrator Nathan Cahall said a local company is interested in renting the village’s previous administrative building on S. Chillicothe Street.
He said he did not want to release the name of the company yet, but described it as being “in the construction trade.”
Cahall noted that the company will only rent the office space, not the fire bay. He added that they are “willing to pledge” that they will not store construction equipment or take deliveries at the building.
“It’s merely going to be a storefront office use,” he said.
Cahall said there are “a couple ways we can go” regarding the leasing agreement.
He recommended a short-term lease. He said it could be a “year-to-year” lease, or a longer term agreement with a buyout clause that could terminate the lease early.
Council member Michael Terry said it isn’t the “ideal type of company” he would like to see in that location.
“I’d rather see a hospitality business,” he said.
Even so, Terry said he does not want to “wait too long without revenue,” and encouraged Cahall to work with the company to create a lease for council to review.
Council member Shannon Pine agreed that she would like Cahall to negotiate with the business.
She said the space was already used for offices. Under a leasing agreement, rather than sale of the property, Pine said she feels it is unlikely a hospitality business will put in the construction work necessary to convert it to a restaurant or retail store.
“I seriously doubt we’re going to get that type of tenant,” she said. “When we sell it – sure.”
Village officials anticipate Plain City will soon reach city status, which would allow them to sell municipal properties.
Until they are able to do so, Pine said she is interested in learning more about the construction company.
She encouraged staff to include a clause in the lease that requires the tenant to vacate the property within a certain period of time once the building is posted for sale.
Council member Frank Reed echoed her comments.
He said he felt comfortable pursuing a short-term lease with the company even if it isn’t the “optimal” business for the location.
“I think we should put the building to work and generate some revenue for it,” Reed said.
Plain City Council has leased its properties to multiple businesses since officials moved into the new municipal building, located at 800 Village Boulevard.
As of late January, village staff was in negotiations with a local HVAC company interested in leasing the former police department property at 231 Friend Street.
Prior to that, the same property was leased to The Wendt Group while the business remodeled its offices.
Cahall has previously said the leases are “triple-net” agreements in which utilities, insurance and any property taxes are added to the rental rate. The lease for The Wendt Group was $1,008 per month.
Cahall said staff will work with the construction company and he will likely present a draft lease to council at its next meeting.