The City of Sundown will be accepting sealed bids for real property owned by the City starting April 3, beginning at 7 a.m.
The minimum acceptable purchase price bid for each lot is $2,000. Eleven properties are available for bid.
Four lots are located at Sundown Carter One Block 25 (Corner of E. Gould Street and S. Hockley Avenue).
- Lot seven is a 50 x 115 - Lot eight is a 50 x 115 - Lot nine is a 50 x 115 - Lot 10 is a 50 x 115 Three lots are located at Sundown Carter One Block 24 (Corner of E. Cameron Street and S. Hockley Avenue).
- Lot 13 is a 50 x 115 - Lot 14 is a 50 x 115 - Lot 15 is a 50 x 115 Two lots are located at Sundown Carter One Block Seven (902 S. School).
- Lot 13 is a N40 x 140 - Lot 14 is a 50 x 140 Two lots are located at Sundown Carter One Block Seven - Lot seven is a 50 x 140 - Lot eight is a 50 x 140. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope or other container, with the submitter’s name, mailing address, daytime phone number and the parcel that the bid is for, written on the front of the envelope. The outside of such sealed envelope or container must clearly and conspicuously state the words “BID Lot # - ” (identify parcel) in large letters. Offers that are less than the minimum purchase price bid stated above shall be rejected as nonresponsive. Seller will not finance any portion of the purchase price.
Bidders are advised to pick up a copy of the bid packet from City Hall located at 809 S. Slaughter in Sundown. Bids can be mailed or hand delivered. All bids must be received no later than 12 p.m. Central, on Friday, April 11.
The property will be sold subject to the following conditions: Each lot will go to the highest bidder, provided that the bid meets or exceeds the minimum bid requirement of $2,000.00.
In the event two or more identical high bids are submitted for a particular lot, the winning bid will be awarded based on bid submittal time and date; that is, the earliest high identical bid will be the successful bid.
Payment for property must be received within four (4) weeks of award notification. If payment is not received within said four week time period, the award of the bid will expire and be of no effect.
Home construction must be completed and a Certificate of Occupancy must be issued within 24 months of City’s conveyance of the property to the successful bidder.
Default on payment or rejection of lot will result in the property being awarded to the next highest bidder. In the event there is no “next highest bidder,” then the award will be deemed to have expired automatically and be of no effect, and City may advertise to take bids on the purchase of the property at a later date.
Lots not awarded will be reopened for bidding at a later date. The Deed instrument conveying the property to the successful purchaser will contain provisions that require the owner to complete home construction and a Certificate of Occupancy must be issued within 24 months of City’s conveyance of the property to the successful bidder. The deed instrument will provide that the property will revert to the City in the event any of these conditions occurs, and the City will reimburse the owner for the original amount bid, less legal fees, for the purchase of the property.
City Hall (City Secretary / City Administrator) must be made aware of any transfer of ownership.
Transfer of Ownership does not reset the 24 month deadline. If the individual who purchased the property decides to sell after 20 months, the new owner still has four months to comply with the requirements made by the Council.
During the Sundown City Council meeting held last Tuesday, the group held a public hearing for single family district zoning changes in the code of ordinances for the City as the changes were associated with the upcoming sale of the lots.
Unanimously approved with no comment, the changes will affect travel trailers.
In Chapter 13 - Utilities it was added that:
A temporary permit fee will be assessed on the monthly utility bill if not paid in advance. Fee is nonrefundable In Chapter 14 - Zoning, it was added that: There is an up to 12-month maximum placement of recreational vehicles.
Once a temporary placement of a recreational vehicle has been removed the December 2024 Temporary definition will apply.
The use of recreational vehicles as a permanent dwelling is prohibited.
A 30-day permit is $20 and this monthly fee will increase annually by $10.
Sundown City Administrator, Billy Hernandez explained that a bulk of the action items held during the meeting played a part in leading up to the sale of the specified lots.
In previous Council meetings, a back-and-forth dialogue between the Council highlighted the importance of seeing a home being built on the lot or a manufactured home being placed.
“The Council does not want to see these lots be purchased and then have travel trailers placed on them as a dwelling,” explained Hernandez. “These changes do restrict those travel trailers from being lived in on those properties.”
Moving forward, the Council unanimously approved an agreement with SAFEbuilt.
Prior to the agreement, Hernandez stated the City was unhappy with the services provided by the company that was in use for inspections for utilities.
He added that communities within the surrounding area are utilizing SAFEbuilt and have had positive experiences with the company.
“They do have a wide variety of services they can provide,” said Hernandez, “We will take advantage of the planning of a home, electrical, plumbing all the way through the building process to the certificate of occupancy for the new dwelling.”