After several rounds of an upset bid process, a vacant industrial building in Littleton is now in the hands of a long-time auto mechanic and his son.
Halifax County commissioners today accepted a $370,700 cash purchase offer from Buddy Isles Jr.
There were three rounds of bidding since Isles in November put what was originally a $300,000 lease to purchase offer on the table.
There was a $320,000 bid put on the building by Kenneth Carroll followed by another bid from Isles for $336,050 and then a $353,000 bid by Carroll before the final $370,700 bid was made on January 30, according to documents contained in today’s agenda packet.
“When the building came up, my son got so excited,” Buddy Isles Sr. told the board before a unanimous vote on the purchase was taken.
The plan is to hire between 15 to 20 people for a expansion of the current auto repair business as well as to bring other businesses to the building, Isles Sr. said. They are looking at bringing an auto parts store there, a U-Haul business and store as well as “leaning to used car and used truck sales.”
They will also be offering opportunities to lease space in the building.
“Littleton needs more attention,” the elder Isles told the board. “My son always had a mind to see way down the down the road. We have to have people to see down the road.”
The building years ago was to be home to a window dressing company which never materialized and has long sat vacant. A light sport aircraft company left the building never paying rent, the county essentially having to terminate that contract, Commissioner Marcelle Smith said in making the motion to approve the purchase. “Mr. Isles came to the board and put in a proposal to buy the building. Looking at the potential to create jobs, my motion is to accept the proposal.”
Commissioner Carolyn Johnson cast the second and during earlier discussion on the matter said, several people from Littleton talked to her and their conversations commended Isles “for being a good steward to the community.”
Cathy Scott, executive director of the Halifax County Economic Development Commission, told the board the county “really hasn’t made any money” on the building and there is no money it has to repay.
A December appraisal of the building valued it at $550,000.
Isles Jr. said following the meeting he would be meeting with lawyers and it would probably take a month to get equipment in the building.
“It’s an opportunity to grow,” his father said. “There’s no limit to what we can do.”
Scott said she was pleased to see the building sold. “It’s been a long haul. It’s never been a quiet issue. I hope everything goes through.”