Find out who is in line to buy 71-73 West Chicago St.

Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter
·2 min read

COLDWATER — Two weeks after the city council turned down a $10,000 offer from Kerr Building developer Jennifer Wingard for the city-owned 71-73 West Chicago St. buildings, council Monday night took the highest of four offers of $80,000.

Ibrahim and Khalil Abdullah want to put an international grocery and Mediterranean restaurant into the buildings.

“While all of the proposals would be positive additions to the downtown and community,” City Manager Keith Baker said staff recommended the bid from the Indiana businessmen. “They currently operate the Fort Wayne Halal Meat & Grocery, Almadina Foods and Jerusalem Bakery and Grill in Fishers, Indiana.”

The vacant building at 71-73 West Chicago Street when it was first put on the market in 2018.
The vacant building at 71-73 West Chicago Street when it was first put on the market in 2018.

Councilman John Petzko said, “I like the offer. It brings a little more diversity to our downtown, in terms of what is being proposed to go in there.” 

Other making offers were:

  • Ryan Kinsey: $79,900 to relocate a barbershop with second-floor apartments

  • Jesus Mancera Cardenas: $78,000 for Mexican restaurant with second-floor apartments

  • Saleh Alharbi: $66,000 for first-floor rentals, second-floor apartments

The city charter requires all real estate offers to be tabled for 30 days before a final vote. Nov. 13 is the first date for final action.

Prior story City council lists 71-73 West Chicago for sale, fails to act on Wingard offer

The delay allows for other offers, but Mayor Tom Kramer said he hoped the council would only consider a substantially higher offer should one come.

“We’re not asking for a development agreement. I think when you’re getting retail price for it, you’re getting a fair price, you hope they do what they say they’ll do,” Kramer said.

The city required prior buyers who offer lower prices to begin development within a year. 

Under a June 2022 contingent $20,000 sales contract, developer Chad Marsh planned to turn the two buildings into an entertainment bar and restaurant with upstairs apartments. He abandoned his plans this summer.

Sept. 11, the city council took no action on the $10,000 offer from Wingard to purchase the building to convert into six apartments and an event center. She claimed it would cost $1 million to make the two 100-plus old buildings sound structurally. 

The Richard A. Kerr family sold the two-story commercial attached buildings to the city in 2018, then returned the purchase price as a tax write-off.

Realtor Jami Lind of the Hauska Home and Farm Agency marketed the property, showing the 71-73 W. Chicago buildings during the Apple Fest.
Realtor Jami Lind of the Hauska Home and Farm Agency marketed the property, showing the 71-73 W. Chicago buildings during the Apple Fest.

Council members wanted to recoup at least its $20,000 asbestos clean-up cost from the gifted buildings. The market value was estimated at $70,000.

Kramer said the council owed the taxpayers to get the most possible for the building.

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Local realtor Jami Lind of the Hauska Home and Farm Agency marketed the property, showing the buildings during the Apple Fest and over the last two weeks after the city signed a realtor’s sales agreement. 

   ---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Find out who is in line to buy 71-73 West Chicago St.