State Board Approves Lavender Lot Parcel Sale
State Comptroller questions appraisal on the two-tenth acre parcel.
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UPDATED (12:16 p.m.) The state Board of Public Works Wednesday morning approved the sale of a portion of the Lavender Avenue parking lot.
The sale to to the Baltimore County Revenue Authority for $53,950 clears the way for the county agency to sell the property in turn to a developer.
Towson-based DMS Development plans to purchase the property for $530,000. The company plans to build a Walgreens on the current site of the 56-space public parking lot.
Community leaders have opposed the sale saying the parking is important to the economic viability of adjacent businesses. The authority promised to earmark $100,000 from the sale of the land to go specifically to the Parkville community.
Comptroller Peter Franchot voted against the sale after questioning the appraised value first raised by a state delegate from Parkville.
Del. John Cluster, in a letter to state officials last month, criticized the sale price because it is far below two independent appraisals that value the land between $160,000 and $233,000.
"Whenever we buy land we're always buying things at the highest appraisal and whenever we sell land we seem to sell for the lowest appraisal," Franchot said Wednesday morning.
Gov. Martin O'Malley and state Treasurer Nancy Kopp voted to approve the sale.
william skip monath
12:39 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Just how many Walgreen/CVS/rite Aid stores do we need in a 3 MINUTE radius???-It figures OWE'MALLEY signed off on it!!! I hope Peter Franchot runs for Governor, Even as a democrat I would vote for him!!
Ruth Baisden
1:20 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Sad to hear the news and thank you Comprtoller Franchot. It is now important for our community to advocate for the funds which purpose is to help midigate negative impacts on our business district. They should only be used only for a Main Street Executive Dirtector and activities to promote Parkville's Main Street Business District (not other areas of the County). To ensure that this happens a grant process should be established to allocate funds to either Greater Parkville Community Council (Parkville Main Street Committee) and/or the Parkville Carney Professional and Business Assoc.. As discussed with the Revenue Authority back in May 2010 (when they sold the lot). I hope the Revenue Authority does not have short memories.
james martin
1:40 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
frankly it is just not right. to open a huge chain drug store in a neighborhood
business area is only going to force smaller businesses to close..i would rather go to
those who know me and my friends , and be treated as family..jim martin
Marge
4:15 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
How more small businesses will lose? How many more Walgreens & CVS are needed in our area? The rich get richer the poor gets poorer & the middle man loses out all the time. Never thought i would see the day the the politicians always wins.
Louise & Dave Benach
4:22 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Figures, O'Malley & Kaminenz let us down once again!! Franchot is this states only hope! God bless him, I hope he runs for Governor!
One Big Day
6:53 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Really? Another Walgreen's. That is ridiculous. I wish the Alan Tree Service Company would purchase the lot. This way they could park their vehicles there instead of putting traffic on Taylor Avenue at a stand still in the mornings. These company vehicles pull out of their side lot and block one side of Taylor Avenue while waiting to cross to the other side with most often taking many light changes before unblocking traffic.