By Hannah Caudell
Real estate, specifically at 155 S Grant St., was the talk of the town in Alto on Tuesday night.
Much of council's work session discussion revolved around the old Dollar General building on 155 S Grant St. The last business to occupy that space was Oh So Cozy, a furniture store that closed down a few months back. Since, the property has remained vacant, and Johnny Collins representing Hangar One Investors attended the council meeting Tuesday night to offer a solution: storage units.
"I think it would be good for the city," Collins said during his presentation. "I think it's a good use for the vacant building that's sitting there, and we'll be good neighbors, I promise you that."
For the building, Collins asked that the town consider a special use permit. That lot is currently zoned Central Business District.
After Collins made his case, council discussed the pros and cons of a storage unit. While Collins tried to ease council's concerns about security, Chief Sean Rogers expressed security concerns with potential break-ins, and Robert Gutowski, who provides code enforcement services for the town, saw the potential project as a "code enforcement nightmare" because of the possibilities that come with a vacant parking lot, like parking overnight.
Council members also discussed what it would be like to have a storage building on the site, and wondered if that was the best use of the property when a business that brings foot traffic could come in.
Councilman Allen Fox, as well as other council members, was hesitant to approve something that, in Fox's words, "only 84 people will ever use."
Ultimately, council voted to deny the special use permit for the old Dollar General building.
In other business, after an hour of executive session, council also voted 4-1 that the town is not interested in selling any town property; Fox was the only no vote, saying that he would generally be interested in selling town property to unburden the taxpayers. Council also approved the mutual termination of a probation services agreement with the City of Demorest.