Burlington, IA – Burlington bought the former Dresser-Rand buildings in late 2008 for $1-million.
The purchase was part of a nearly $3.5-million incentive package to keep the company in the area.
Dresser-Rand now has a facility along West Avenue.
City Manager Doug Worden says there was a hope, at the time, that businesses would be moving into the buildings.
He says prospective clients identified by Grow Greater Burlington and by the Iowa Department of Economic Development did not come to fruition.
Worden says the buildings are now in poor condition because of flood damage and lack of upkeep.
He says Burlington has received several offers to demolish the buildings for the salvage value.
Worden says several city council members want to tour the buildings to see if they can be redeveloped before making a decision on the demolition.
He says the demolition will possibly hinge on whether there are additional costs for the city.
Burlington is currently repaying the $1-million dollar loan it received from the IDED. The city has requested the remaining balance be waived.
Worden expects the city council to decide whether to demolish the buildings before the end of the year.
Armory Acquisition
Burlington is a step closer to taking ownership of a former military installation.
The city council has agreed to accept the former National Guard Armory.
The deal includes two additional buildings and about five acres of land along Summer Street.
City Manager Doug Worden says Burlington plans to use the two smaller buildings for police and public works storage.
He says the city is not really interested in the armory, itself, but outside organizations have contacted the city about leasing it.
Worden says there is a small leak in the armory's roof. He says the Iowa National Guard may repair it before the city takes possession.
Worden hopes to complete the transaction within the next couple of weeks.
The armory is no longer needed because of the Guard's new facility in Middletown.
Burlington has first rights to the property because it donated the land for the armory.
Manor Sale
Burlington is seeking proposals from commercial realtors interested in helping the city sell a large, vacant property.
City Manager Doug Worden says several developers have expressed an interest in the roughly 28-acre site known as "The Manor," but nothing has come to fruition.
Worden says seeking professional assistance is a good idea, given the long-list of duties for the city manager.
"I think with my retiring, that listening to a commercial realtor would take the burden off of the next city manager," says Worden, "because they could hand it off to a commercial realtor to try to find a developer."
Worden says the city's criteria for selecting a realtor include track record, experience, commission, and strategy.
He says an incentive could be available to speed up the sale, though the goal for the site continues to be commercial development.