By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
A house that sits in the old Ohio and Erie Canal bed on Groveport Road in Canal Winchester could soon become city park land as Canal Winchester City Council moves forward to acquire the property.
Owned by the beneficiaries of the Harold Detty estate, the house and land was previously valued by the Franklin County Auditor at $93,100. However, time has taken a toll on the 1923 house and its additions and a certified appraisal obtained by city estimated its current value at $160.
Development Director Lucas Haire said the appraiser valued the land at $6,160. Given the condition of the house, it has a negative value of $6,000, which is the estimated cost to demolish the structure.
“The property is in the estate and the estate has washed its hands of the property,” Haire said. “This is the first step in the process to acquire the property.”
Council approved a resolution to appropriate the 1.4-acre fee simple interest site.
“This is in canal lands,” said Councilwoman Marilyn Rush-Ekelberry, “and so we can use that to make additional park land long Groveport Road.”
Other Canal Winchester news
•Council passed an ordinance approving a $345,000 design-build agreement with Ferguson Construction Company for the new $2.3 million public works facility.
•Council observed a moment of silence to honor the memory of Dr. Dan Konold, a local physician and long-time member of the city’s planning and zoning commission who recently passed away.
