Savages buy former city hall building

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

For the past seven years, Deb Savage has spent a lot of time at 220 E. Monroe St., the former city hall. Now, the Mt. Pleasant councilwoman and her husband, Mt. Pleasant physician, Dr. Alfred Savage, own it.

The Savages emerged as the top bidders Thursday for the 1936 building, with a winning bid of $55,500, edging Mt. Pleasant?s Dean King for the title in a half-hour auction witnessed by about 50 residents.

One bidder submitted his prices by phone, but the sale attracted more curiosity than bids. For the most part, the Savages and King raised the ante in an auction, which began with a minimum bid of $25,000.

?She needed a project to work on,? Alfred Savage said afterwards, nodding in his wife?s direction.

?It?s a fine building and has a great history,? he said, obviously pleased he was the new owner.

Asked about his plans for the building, Alfred said the building could be used for offices, small businesses and apartments, or a combination of all three. He said he has no immediate plans for the structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Chuckling, Alfred said he would have preferred to have purchased the building at half the price he paid, ?but I thought it might go for as high as $75,000.

?My wife has done a lot of projects,? he continued. ?It is a solid building in a good location with a lot of parking around it. Initially, we looked at it for apartments but we aren?t sure (regarding its future use) now.?

?The building could have a number of mixed uses, such as apartments and businesses,? Deb added.

Mt. Pleasant City Administrator Brent Schleisman said he was happy with the purchase price. ?I am extremely pleased (with the price) and appreciate everyone bidding and for the effort of the auctioneers. Now, someone can repurpose the building.?

Schleisman said he didn?t know what to expect regarding a final price. ?I really didn?t know what it would go for but am pleased with the amount we received. I can?t really say that I am surprised or that I am not surprised (by the final purchase price). We just wanted enough (money to cover our moving expenses and that more than covered it.?

The city administrator said he is pleased the Savages purchased the building. ?They are interested in historical structures and will take good care of it.

The building was purchased as is. Prior to the start of the auction, Jim Huff of Sullivan Auctioneers, LLC, the Mt. Pleasant firm handling the auction, said the building would be sold ?as is.? He said the city preferred to keep the weather warning sign on top of the building and would pay the buyer $100 in monthly rent for the space. However, he said that if the buyer wanted the sign removed, the city would remove it.

Mt. Pleasant city offices moved last month into the civic center/library building at 307 E. Monroe St. The city has attempted to see the building since June but found no serious interest in the landmark.

?We had a lot of inquiries and there were quite a few people at the open house, but we weren?t able to sell it (prior to the auction),? Schleisman concluded.