Jamestown Council purchases dangerous 324 5th Ave NE for $1, okays demolition

The Jamestown City Council unanimously approved purchasing the vacant lot and building at 324 5th Ave. NE for a symbolic price of $1 and authorized city staff to obtain quotes for demolition. Council members voted without opposition during the meeting that addressed the property officials described as a public-safety concern.

Zoning administrator Tom Blackmore told the council that “the property at 324 5th Ave. NE has been deemed dangerous.” The parcel is legally identified as “lot one in block eight of the McGinnis Addition, except the east 60 feet,” and city documents describe the site as a vacant lot and building that has drawn code-enforcement attention.

City financial context accompanied the safety rationale. Blackmore said “the city had to actually put on a mill levy to pay off these old special assessments,” and reporting from the meeting noted the special assessment deficiency fund balance is “about $2.3 million.” The meeting record does not state whether that fund will pay demolition costs; officials authorized only the solicitation of demolition quotes at this time.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich outlined a short window for voluntary transfer of the property. Heinrich said the current property owners could make a decision by this weekend to sign a quit-claim deed to transfer ownership of the property to the city. “If the quit-claim deed is not signed,” he said, “the City Council will need to take action.” The council’s approval of the $1 purchase leaves open both the voluntary deed option and additional council action if the owners do not transfer title.

Council authorization to obtain demolition quotes initiates procurement steps but did not include cost estimates, contractor names, or a demolition timeline. Meeting materials and remarks make clear staff will solicit bids; no bid deadlines or funding commitments were provided at the session.

Heinrich also signaled further property actions. He said the city could purchase at least two or three more properties that are deemed dangerous, although he did not identify addresses or a schedule for additional acquisitions during the meeting.

The council took separate local-regulatory action at the same meeting, directing staff to prepare a denial letter for Horse Race North Dakota’s requests for site authorization to conduct gaming at Izumi Sushi & Hibachi and La Caretta Mexican Restaurant from March 3 to June 30. The denial letter will state the applications were refused because Horse Race North Dakota “failed to show sufficient ties to the community,” and Mayor Heinrich was authorized to sign the denial. A separate procedural note at the meeting recorded that a request from Horse Race North Dakota “failed due to the lack of a motion.”

Separately, at a different council meeting, the council approved selling 1220 Railroad Drive to Joe and Nichole Klundt for $153,600. “The property at 1220 Railroad Drive will be sold to Joe and Nichole Klundt for $153,600,” and Abbagail Geroux, assistant city attorney, said the property will be used for storage space for businesses and consumer needs. That separate action included conditions requiring exterior refurbishment and a buyback provision if development does not occur within two years, and the council also approved other measures such as support for Flexible Transportation Fund grant applications and a Community Development Block Grant sponsorship for Buffalo Manor Apartments.

Photo: Dangerous House 03022026.jpg, Masaki Ova / The Trust Project.