Towne not developing Ninth and Elm

Whoever is purchasing the buildings on the southwest corner of Ninth and Elm streets (BIRD'S EYE) Downtown, it is not Towne Properties.

On Sunday, Dan at the Queen City Survey blog posted about a rendering on the GBBN website of a new info condominium building to be constructed there.

According to the GBBN website, the new building would include 18 condominium units with ground-floor parking for 18 cars.

Speculation about the project recently arose because the buildings are listed for $335,000 and a sale is currently pending.

Towne Properties partner Arn Bortz says that they are not the buyers.

"We tried very hard to come up with a feasible project for that site but were unsuccessful," Bortz said.

Redevelopment is problematic because the buildings are in the Ninth Street Historic District - part of the National Register of Historic Places - and can't be torn down.

The complex of buildings, which were built in 1879 and include nearly 10,000 square feet, appears quite rundown, but have no current housing code violations.