$500,000 land, building deal denied

The Maricopa City Council voted against a 10-acre land deal last week that included a 3,578-square-foot office building and a 10,352-square-foot warehouse.

The property is owned by Monsanto Co., an agriculture biotechnology firm.

The city had proposed spending $500,000 from its general fund for the land and buildings on Farrell Road about one-half mile east of White and Parker Road as a location for a public works yard. The site is less than a five-minute drive from the new city hall under construction on White and Parker Road.

Dennis L. Lopez & Associates LLC, a private appraisal firm, assessed the market value of the buildings in February at $350,000. The property and buildings together were appraised at $475,000.

Improvements were made to the property in 1997, according to the Pinal County Assessor’s Office.

Councilmen Leon Potter and Marvin Brown said after the meeting they want the city to consider other options, including the Estrella Gin property, where the city plans to build a fire station and an Amtrak station.

Brown, who made the motion to reject the purchase, said the property on Farrell Road is not the best location because residential development is expected in the area in next three or four years and a public works yard would detract from the aesthetics.

“I want staff to look around and find something better for us,” said Brown, adding he prefers the Estrella Gin site.

Potter said of the Farrell Road site, “I’m not convinced it is the best option, I want to see how it plays out.”

Last summer council members asked city staff to seek another site besides the Estrella Gin property, City Manager Brenda Fischer said Friday.

She said the Monsanto land was picked as a good option because it already has buildings and improvements on it. Fischer said staff now will pursue other options.