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City to sell two houses on Mill Street for $1,000

Date: 10/22/2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — The city is offering two more historic residential properties to potential developers through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

Last week, the houses at 120 and 175 Mill St. were opened for tours.

The city described 175 Mill St. as "a vacant, single family home, constructed circa 1890. The house is a wood-frame, 2½ story home with a basement."

The other house at 120 Mill St. was described as "a vacant, single family home, constructed circa 1890. The house is a wood-frame, 2½ story home with a basement. The city is seeking a developer who will remove the cinderblock addition and artificial siding."

Both houses have an initial asking price of $1,000 and both have Community Development Block Grant façade assistance for exterior renovations.

Robert McCarroll of the Historic Commission said both homes were taken by the city for back taxes and both properties had been converted at one point to be used as rest homes.

The 175 Mill St. house has an attached structure, McCarroll pointed out, which could either be renovated or repaired. He added the city is looking for a use as a single-family home, but might consider a two-family renovation.

He said the building "has seen better days" and has suffered from water damage and vandalism.

The 120 Mill St. house is in better condition and is smaller than the other property, he said.

"These vacant and deteriorated houses have been negatively impacting the neighborhood for years," Mayor Domenic Sarno said. "We are excited to have the potential of their redevelopment while preserving Springfield's historic assets. The city is especially interested in proposals where the end use is an owner-occupied home."

Proposals are due Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. RFP packets can be obtained online at www.comm-pass.com or from the Office of Procurement, City Hall, 36 Court St.