THE FORMER LOCATION of Cloud & Son Funeral Home, 198 M.L. King Jr. Ave. S.W. is being purchased by the city for $4,500. The city is planning to spend approximately $3,000 to raze the abandoned structure.
The Cairo City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to expand its real estate holdings around the U.S. Post Office complex, which the city owns and leases to the postal service.
After several months of discussion and negotiation, City Manager Chris Addleton reported this week the city has the opportunity to purchase the former Cloud & Son Funeral Home facility located at 198 MLKing Jr. Ave. S.W. for the cost of $4,500.
The property is currently owned by Alma S. Murray of Springfield, Mass. Ms. Murray originally sought a purchase price of $7,500, but Addleton and Building Official Brian Hayes negotiated the sale price down based on the city’s projected expense of $3,000 to raze the structure.
A separate property east of the Murray property is also being offered to the city for purchase, however, Addleton said this week no firm commitment had been reached. If the city is successful in purchasing both tracts, it would own the entire block with the exception of some small tracts owned by three other owners at the northeast end of the block.
Addleton said the purchase of the property at the southwest corner of the block would be a “strategic purchase” for the city.
