Hancock Council accepts bid for former Neil’s Taxi site

At Wednesday’s Hancock City Council meeting, the board accepted a purchase agreement to sell a parcel at 201 E. Franklin Street in the downtown district to Andrew Lahti. He intends to develop three 1,400 square foot townhouses. It would feature a garage at the ground floor and the total building would be three stories tall, expected to be completed by the fall.

The council questioned whether that schedule could be met. There was talk about changing the language from demanding it be completed within a year to “substantially completed.” Councilman John Hauessler suggested a reverter clause instead.

Lahti said he expects to utilize the townhomes as rental properties once construction is completed.

The site has been owned by the City of Hancock for a couple years thanks to delinquent property taxes. They put out a request for development proposals last month after rehabbing the parcel. Growth had to be cut back and tires removed from when it served as the location for Neil’s Taxi. Lahti’s townhome submission was the only one received.

Correction: Article had originally identified the buyer as Mike Lahti. It is Andrew Lahti.