Village Council puts money into downtown building
Dundee Village Council members have decided to spend about $100-$120,000 in taxpayers’ money to convert the former antiques shop building on Riley Street so it can be used as doctors’ offices.
In addition, about $80,000 will be spent to make the building “safe,” which must be done in any case, said village officials at the Tuesday, June 1 council meeting. Part of this $80,000 also will be used for the building inspector’s portion of the building.

The lease with the doctors has not yet been signed, but could be signed at any time.

The Village paid about $175,000 for the building, for a total of $375,000 with the renovations.

Council is requiring the sports medicine doctors, who are currently based in Maumee, Ohio, to post a $10,000 security deposit, primarily because of a lead-lined room, which must be built especially for them to use for x-rays, at a cost of $6,000.

The rent to be paid by the doctors is $2,300 per month. Typically, in a commercial building rental, the tenant pays for all improvements. The cost of the rent charged to the doctors by the village is comparable to rent that would be charged by other commercial building owners, except that the taxpayers are paying for these improvements.

The lease is to be for five years, with a five-year extension available.

The Village taxpayers could invest $120,000 or even more before it’s completed, to renovate a building that over five years, will generate $138,000 in revenue. The building also will go back on the tax rolls, because more than 51% of it will be used by a commercial enterprise. Plus, there will be insurance, which must be paid on the building. Final costs have not yet been determined.
Parking could be issue

Dr. Henry Taylor, one of the doctors who will lease the building, said that the doctors’ office would need about eight parking spaces in the front.

Council requested that patients be asked to park in the rear of the building if possible, but there will be no enforcement of this policy. Many residents and business owners have expressed concern over the parking issue, and whether installing doctors’ offices was the best use for the downtown space.
Part of the building also will be used by the village building inspector, with contractors, developers and others visiting his office, as well.