City Acquires Town Tavern Site

LOCK HAVEN – City council Monday night gave its unanimous approval to the purchase of the former Town Tavern building at 47-51 Bellefonte Avenue. The structure, in a state of disrepair, was purchased from owner David Mayes at a cost of $10,000 plus $1,519 in 2017 city taxes plus transaction fees.

According to city manager Greg Wilson, the ultimate demolition of that building, coupled with the nearby now empty Heilig-Meyers lot, will create about a half an acre of developable land in the downtown. Wilson said Mayes still owns the Heilig-Myers site but it is up for judicial sale on Sept. 20 and the city will be involved in that process to make sure its investment in razing the building is protected.

The site is considered prime commercial land in the downtown. There have been reports of developers expressing interest in the two lots separated by an alley. Asked after the council meeting about such interest, Wilson said, “I can neither confirm nor deny those reports.”