The Dora City Council approved Dora Utilities’ request to move forward with the sale of the Dora Shopping Center. The sale will be to a national retailer, according to Mayor Randy Stephens, but the buyer does not want to be named publicly until negotiations are complete.
Council member and Dora Utilities board president Randy Spears said the building has fallen into disrepair and has cost approximately $85,000 in the last year and still needs a new roof, which would run $150,00-$180,000.
Stephens said the national company would be “very lucrative” for the city if the sale goes through.
The sale does leave the fate of the shopping center’s current tenants in uncertain territory, but Spears said there would be a time frame for those tenants to find new accommodations if the new owners did not want to continue those leases.
The sale would not impact Piggly Wiggly, as the store is a separate property from the rest of the shopping center.
ALCOHOL SALES
The council approved an ordinance that will alter the city’s current alcohol sales measures. The ordinance will apply to off-premises alcohol sales, which will now be allowed on Sunday. The mayor said it is to prepare for the Heritage Landing development. Stephens asked that the council members put their personal feelings about alcohol sales aside and vote for what would be best for the city. On-premises alcohol sales will still be restricted from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sundays.
STREET NAME
The council approved a request from Rising Star Baptist Church to rename the road the church is on to Reverend James Kelley Memorial Drive. Kelley was the pastor of the church, until his sudden death. The street was unofficially renamed last year, but did not go through the official channels so needed to be approved by the council.
SALE OF PROPERTY
The council also approved the sale of approximately 10 acres off Horsecreek Boulevard, behind the trucking company. The buyer is a holdings company owned by Chris Wise. They agreed to purchase the property at the appraised value of $22,000.
