by Marty Trese, KnoxPages.com Editor
MOUNT VERNON- One of downtown’s most famous landmarks, which has been vacant for about seven months, was sold Friday morning at sheriff’s sale. The Historic Curtis Inn property at 12 Public Square was sold for $443,000, 2/3 of its appraised value of $650,000. The bidder was local attorney Clint Bailey, of Critchfield, Critchfield and Johnston, who was acting as the buyer’s agent. When contacted by KnoxPages.com, Bailey would not identify the buyer but did say, “This is very positive news for the community.” Bailey went on to comment that more information about the plans for the Curtis Inn site will be available in the coming weeks as the situation unfolds.
The Curtis Inn has caught the attention of local officials over the years due to crime, code violations and licensing issues.
The Mount Vernon Police department has made several arrests there on drug and trespassing charges. In October of 2012, The Inn and kitchen were shut down due to code violations. Residents of the hotel were give 24 hours to evacuate. The city did assist in relocating those residents. In February of this year, the Mount Vernon Fire Department shut the Inn down when it was discovered that the Inn had been operating without proper licensing from the State of Ohio.
Mount Vernon City Council Member Mike Hillier tells KnoxPages.com, “I think it’s exciting news.”
Hear more comments from Hillier on the sale in a MountVernonRadio.com mini-podcast by clicking here.
