The city hopes to acquire the former Bachmann’s Tavern property on St. Georges Avenue for use as a youth center and to house the school district’s all-day pre-kindergarten.

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Details were revealed during a public hearing on two related ordinances up for final approval last night at the City Council‘s regular monthly meeting.

.The governing body introduced the two ordinances last month. One borrows $2.6 million for the acquisition and first phase of renovations (O-7-23) and another (O-8-23) authorizes the city to acquire the property “by negotiated agreement or exercise of the power of eminent domain through condemnation.” The two ordinances ultimately were approved, 7-0 with two members absent, and no comments by council members.

Bachmann’s has not been purchased yet and the city is still in negotiations to acquire it, Mayor Ray Giacobbe, Jr. said in response to a resident during the first public hearing. “These negotiations may work out, they may not,” he said, adding that the ordinances are an opportunity to show that the city is serious in acquiring two lots (Block 255, Lots 31 and 32) at St. Georges and West Lincoln avenues.

The facility will house a recreational youth center and the city also is in negotiations with the school district to use it for an all-day, pre-kindergarten program, the mayor said. The $2.6-million bond ordinance is for costs associated with purchase of the property and the first phase of renovations, Giacobbe said, and expenses that come along with the transaction.

Kids would be able to use the center after school, participating in educational and other programs, do homework and have access to computers and the internet, Giacobbe said.

The mayor’s remarks were in response to Campbell Street resident Andrew Garcia Phillips who raised questions during the public hearing on the bond ordinance (O-7-23). “I don’t know what this project is, whether it’s good or bad. I don’t know why you’re choosing not to share that,” he told council members during the public hearing before the mayor responded.

“I don’t know why any of that information wasn’t shared before.,” Garcia Phillips said during the public hearing on the second ordinance (O-8-23), adding that he’d asked three weeks ago for details. “This is why you have things public, so you can discuss, and maybe even improve” ideas, he said, adding that it doesn’t seem like a great place for youth center since St. Georges Avenue is among the most dangerous roads in town. “I wish you would have shared this information with the public before you voted on it,” he said.

“No one is pulling levers behind the scenes,” Giacobbe said. “These are negotiation tactics.”

March 14 UPDATE: Realtor Matt Dobrowolski, who represents the property owners, said in a brief telephone interview today that he expects continued discussions and negotiations once a formal offer has been received from the city. In hte past two years, he estimated about five offers have been made on the property, ranging from $1.8 million to $2.5 million.

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