Johnstown approves $685,000 downtown land purchase agreement
The town has 30 days to investigate the property and obtain required approvals, and may walk away during that period and recover its deposit. Closing is due 3 to 30 days after the review period ends.
The Johnstown Town Council approved an agreement to buy about 1.18 acres near Charlotte Street for $685,000. Staff said the purchase could advance the town’s vision for downtown redevelopment.
The purchase agreement lists Oct. 6 as its effective date. The town has 30 days after that date to investigate the property and obtain required approvals; it may terminate the agreement during that period at its sole discretion and recover its deposit. Closing must occur three to 30 days after the review period ends, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.
Quality Liquid Feeds had decided to close its Johnstown business and move to another state, staff said. The town evaluated the property, met with its owners and reviewed its adopted downtown master plan, which identifies the industrial park for revitalization and redevelopment into more synergistic uses, staff said. “Acquiring that property really puts us on that path to meeting the vision of the downtown as a whole,” a staff member told the council.
The resolution says General Fund money may be used for the purchase and the town intends to amend its 2026 budget if necessary. The town would pay the deed-recording fee and transfer taxes, while the seller would pay the title-insurance premium. They would split the title company’s closing fee and each cover their own attorney fees, along with other assigned closing costs.
Staff said the town had worked with Quality Liquid Feeds for several months on a possible purchase and an assessment of the property’s feasibility. The town conducted a Phase 1 assessment to examine whether the site might be a brownfield. That assessment indicated a Phase 2 assessment would make sense to determine whether it was, staff said.