Developer offers to buy building

Developer offers to buy building

Posted

MADISON — A developer who has spent the last few years revitalizing historic downtown wants to purchase a building believed to be owned by the county that formerly served as the Junior Auxiliary of Madison County’s headquarters.

Brigforth Rutledge has been transforming buildings along Madison’s Main Street since 2016. He appeared before county supervisors on Monday in hopes of obtaining the 500-square foot building.

Rutledge explained that the building was owned by the city, but transferred to the county in 1953 to be used as a health clinic. He said the building hasn’t been used as a health clinic for decades though and it’s unknown if the property ever reverted back to the city. Either way, he said, he wants to purchase the building, update it, and continue to revitalize downtown.

“I’d like to buy it,” he said. “I own the property that’s beside it. It’s dilapidated. It really affects my properties that are next to it.”

Rutledge told supervisors he plans to leave the building there, renovate it, and pave the parking lot.

The county appraised the property over two years ago with hopes to sell, even accepting bids from prospective buyers. But, there became a disagreement between the county and city over ownership and everything ceased.

Board President Gerald Steen told Rutledge this was the first time many of the supervisors were hearing about the building so the first step the county needs to do is determine actual ownership.

District 4 Supervisor Karl Banks said it was his understanding that years ago the county took the position it was no longer owned by the county.

“It should be in our minutes,” he said.

District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin said he remembered the discussion, too, saying the reason it didn’t go anywhere was because they didn’t want to kick the Junior Auxiliary out of the building.

JA operated a Good Buy Shop there for nearly 30 years before transforming the building into a community resource center in 2013. The Good Buy Shop opened in 1986 and sold donated clothes to raise money that went towards scholarships and mini-grants. 






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