Council votes to sell property to Freddy's Frozen Custard
The Vestavia Hills City Council voted to move forward with the sale of 1280 Montgomery Highway to Bama Custard, LLC, the purveyor of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.
The Council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance declaring the property, which is the current location of the City’s Public Works facilities, as surplus and accepting a purchase and sale agreement.
The purchase and sale agreement approved on April 11 set the purchase price at $1.2 million, with a tentative closing date in January 2017.
However, the agreement comes with multiple caveats.
“There are several hurdles that have to be jumped,” City Manager Jeff Downes told the Council.
Downes said that in the process of drafting the agreement, it was determined that the property has sanitary sewer problems that will need to be fixed prior to any new construction. Downes said the agreement outlines that the $50,000 to $75,000 cost to fix the problems will be deducted from the final purchase prices upon closing.
The agreement is also contingent on sufficient rezoning efforts, as well as final determination that there are no outstanding covenants on the land.
The City will also need to secure new locations for Public Works facilities. If there is a delay in the relocation, Downes said the closing date could be pushed back as far as April 2017.
If the sale goes through, Alabama’s third Freddy’s location would anchor a multi-retail development, with Bama Custard acting as owner-operator. Downes said this was part of the negotiation to maximize the use of the site, rather than having a stand-alone restaurant.
Other Council Business:
- Mayor Butch Zaragoza and the Council proclaimed Tuesday, April 26 as a Day of Prayer and thanksgiving in honor of the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.
- Downes announced that the resurfacing of Wald Park Pool was completed on budget and before the deadline.
- The Council voted to add $24,000 to the City’s turf management agreement to cover mowing and maintenance at the old Altadena Country Club.
- The Council accepted a bid for a comprehensive HVAC maintenance agreement with H & M Mechanical, Inc.
- The Council voted to allow Charles Fletcher of 1600 Gentilly Drive two weeks to reduce overgrowth of weeds and shrubs. If on April 25, Officer Jimmy Coleman determines the problem has not been abated, the City staff will take action to eliminate the problem.