FARMINGTON — The city’s Redevelopment Agency has adjusted a plan to provide funding to raze before the end of the year what is being described as a community eyesore.
At a recent meeting, the RDA voted unanimously to tweak a plan to demolish an old LDS Church at 1400 N. Main St., as part of a small development project. Demolition of the church is expected to cost approximately $54,000, said Frank McCullough, a developer who has spearheaded an effort to address relocating the owner of the building and address what has been described as a “community blight.” He expects the building to be demolished before the end of the year.
The newly tweaked agreement reduces the amount of RDA funds that potentially will be used in the demolition from $100,000 to $75,000, City Manager Dave Millheim said.
McCullough is working with the owner of the property, in collaboration with the neighborhood, to redevelop the site. Currently, an LDS church, built in 1914, is on the property.
McCullough stepped forward to help Susan Maughan, who owns the property and lived in the old church until recently, with the intent of directing any potential profits toward a possible new residence for Maughan, as part of the development.
He has outlined a plan to raze the church and prep the property for a development of five units by another builder.
McCullough said he and neighbors are not making any money in the transaction and have collaborated to help Maughan find a new residence while also remedying a neighborhood problem.
Mayor Scott Harbertson said he has wanted to address the deteriorating structure for several years.
The slope of the area around 1400 North is part of the concern with any project there. Council members have stewed over details regarding how the homes are situated and how traffic would flow from the project onto westbound traffic off the hill.
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