LEXINGTON — A crumbling eyesore on the northeast side of Lexington’s downtown square may soon become a village green space.
Lexington’s village council unanimously authorized the purchase of four undeveloped parcels Monday night for $1.5 million.
The resolution grants Mayor Bob Jarvis permission to move forward with the purchase.
The four parcels are all owned by Andrew Meade of Lexington Plaza Properties. They include:
- A 0.45 acre lot along Main Street, formerly home to the Lexington Plaza strip mall, immediately west of Nickel and Bean.
- 10 Plymouth Street, a 0.4 acre lot with a commercial building last occupied by the late State Farm Insurance Agency Scott Sharrock.
- Two lots north of (behind) Nickel and Bean, East Main Chiropractic and Main Street Barber. The lots consist of a parking lot and grassy area that extends to North Mill Street.
According to Jarvis, the purchase price of $1.5 million matches an appraisal of the four parcels.
Jarvis said the owners of Nickel and Bean, Stacie Elkhoury and Stephen Webster, and local dentists Nick Molnar and Andrew Skasko all contributed funds to help the village purchase the lots. He declined to specify how much.
“Those donations were from businesses proximate to that location,” council president Wynn Kearns said. “They actually approached us about it. They came to the mayor and said, ‘What can we do to help push this along?”
Jarvis said Meade also agreed to restore the Main Street lot to green space at no additional cost to the village. It currently contains a concrete pad from the former building.
“We’re very grateful to Mr. Meade for offering to do that,” Jarvis said.
In September 2021, Meade worked with a developer to pitch a proposal for a gas station and convenience store on the former Lexington Plaza lot to the village planning commission.
Following outcry from village residents and a formal hearing, both the commission and council voted against the project.
Parcels will become green space, commercial space and municipal parking lot
Jarvis said the village plans to turn the former Lexington Plaza property, now vacant and gated off, into a green space. He said the village may add a gazebo to the lot.
“We’re happy to take any input from the community if they’ve got other ideas,” Jarvis added.
Ownership of 10 Plymouth St. will transfer to the Lexington Community Improvement Corporation, which plans to rent out the commercial space.
Kearns, who heads up the CIC, said the building was well-maintained and won’t require immediate updates.
The parking spaces behind Nickel and Bean will remain as a municipal lot. Jarvis said the village plans to refurbish the parking lot, though that likely won’t take place until the spring.
“We’ll get with our engineers and see what they recommend,” Jarvis said. “It looks like it needs a full repaving, but we’re going to wait for their analysis on that.”
Jarvis said the purchase aligns with the village’s long-term goals.
“The nice thing about all this is ties in with our comprehensive plan passed back in February 2022,” Jarvis said. “The residents wanted kind of a facelift to the downtown area, and more parking.”
Kearns he was “ecstatic” about the purchase and credited Jarvis’ dedication to securing the deal.
“People ask me almost daily, what are you guys doing about that?” he said. “The mayor is relentless. He’s been on this constantly.”
