Questions Property Deals by City of Pacific

Questions Property Deals by City of Pacific - The Missourian: Letters To The Editor

Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 5:00 pm

Questions Property Deals by City of Pacific By F.N. Brennan, Pacific The Missourian

To The Editor:

According to the article: “City (Pacific) to Close on Sale of Museum Property,” in the Wednesday, June 27, 2012, issue of The Missourian, the city of Pacific was selling the city property at 206 W. Union St. (which housed the Meramec Valley History Museum) to the Franklin County Catholic Church Real Estate Corporation. This corporation would turn the ownership over to St. Bridget of Kildare Parish. Purchase price was $140,000. (This is about $10,000 less than the city paid for it.)

After Red Cedar Inn closed in 2005, Pacific city officials told us the city was going to buy the Red Cedar property and it would house the museum and welcoming center. St. Bridget Parish was going to buy the city property at 206 W. Union St. and the proceeds from this sale would be used to help pay for the Red Cedar property. The city didn’t buy Red Cedar and the church didn’t buy the Union Street property.

The Union Street property was offered for sale to the general public but later was removed from the open market, so the church could buy it.

In the May 25, 2011, issue of The Missourian we were told the city had purchased the property at 115 E. Osage St. and it would house the museum and welcoming center. And, again, the church was going to buy the Union Street property. It was rumored the city paid $194,000 for this property. The museum workers packed their displays, etc., anticipating moving to the new location. This property has been vacant since it was bought and no attempt has been made to remodel the building, to make it suitable for a museum or welcoming center.

Now, we have been told the Franklin County Catholic Church Real Estate Corporation and St. Bridget of Kildare Parish will not buy the Union Street property. Why?

The Pacific mayor owes the Pacific city taxpayers a complete explanation concerning the circumstances of this debacle!