Walhalla makes a big buy

After an approximate one-hour closed meeting, Walhalla’s elected leaders voted to buy the property that takes in a corner lot downtown. It’s an economic development move that the city administrator describes that’ll enable the city to decide what becomes of the property that many years ago served as the office of a businessman and former mayor, Arthur Brown. City Administrator Brent Taylor says it’s a transaction in which the city will pay $245 thousand from its reserves to current day property owner, JKAT. The property covers 1.33 acres and includes a grassy lot and paved parking lot fronting Main and bordering S. College Street. In recent years, Martha’s Marketplace anchored the building, but a heavy rain left the building seemingly irreparable. It was demolished shortly after JKAT acquired the property from the Littletons.