Ripon Common Council Investigating The Razing Of The American House
11 September 2019 News
The Ripon Common Council Tuesday night started the process for razing the former American House at 230 Watson Street. Namely there was a unanimous vote to investigate funding for the razing of the building and improvements to the property. The Council would have to take another vote down the line to actually raze the building. Mayor Gary Will says they will still entertain offers for the building and property, but the building is in poor shape. Some of the youth got in there and really vandalized the property prior to us; there was a leak prior to us not as bad as it is now sticking money into a building that potentially would have to come down anyways I really believe that we thought we wouldn’t have this property anymore.” The city got the property through a lawsuit about three years ago and has been trying to sell it since then. Meanwhile the city has about $435,000 from a revolving loan fund it has to return to the state, but once it does it can reapply for the money as a grant and use it for blighted properties like the American House. It would cost about $100,000 to raze the building and the rest could be used for improvements. Will says he does have some ideas for park area or park land for the property he will share with the council if and when the building is razed.
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