NORTH ADAMS — The long-neglected property at 159 Eagle St. will be sold to the owners of the adjacent commercial strip.

The announcement by Mayor Jennifer Macksey was made during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, where councilors expressed unanimous support for the sale. The dilapidated property will be sold for $15,000 to Alan Aubin and Margaret Neville, the owners of the abutting commercial strip directly south.

The couple owns the commercial strip between the foreclosed property and Domino’s, which formerly housed Neville’s Donut Shop and now contains Artsy Avenue, Styling Studio Hair Salon and the North Adams Music Center.

Neville’s father and grandfather previously owned the property at 145 Eagle St., and Macksey said she chose the couple’s bid over several others because they are longtime landlords in the city who have consistently taken care of their property.

“The Neville [and Aubin] family have been solid pillars in this community,” she said.

The property at 159 Eagle St. in North Adams will be sold for $15,000 to Alan Aubin and Margaret Neville.

The house was taken by the city through eminent domain in 1998 after three years of unpaid taxes by the owner at the time, according to land records. In 2007, Macksey, then the city’s tax collector, placed a lien on the property to secure unpaid water charges, according to land records.

“The building itself is deplorable … there are holes in the floor and issues with structure in the back,” said Macksey.

The house was sold by Pam Tworig of Bishop West Real Estate. Out of the five bids placed on the house, Macksey said the city hadn’t heard of most of the bidders and some needed financing to completely redo the place. Neville and Aubin’s purchase will be a cash deal.

Macksey said that the sale will go through Thursday and the owners are planning to either tear it down to create more parking around the congested Eagle Street or renovate it.

Several councilors expressed agreement of the parking issues on Eagle Street that can at busy times turn it into one lane. Plus, many mentioned, it will finally become taxable.

“The most complaints I get are about parking,” said Councilor Lisa Blackmer. “To me, [the home is] beyond repair. If we can have parking and we have abutters with this reputation, it just makes sense.”

The couple who will purchase the property owns the commercial strip next to it that contains Artsy Avenue, Styling Studio Hair Salon and the North Adams Music Center.

Councilor Bryan Sapienza said although the home is not going to the highest bidder, it's a better option than remaining the city's problem.

“I would much rather see it go to someone before it catches on fire or something happens and it’s the city's responsibility,” Sapienza said.

Councilor Alexa MacDonald said the sale will encourage more downtown foot traffic from north of the house.

“As someone who used to live in the area, having houses that are unsafe make people less likely to walk toward downtown,” she said.

Though he ultimately voted in favor of the sale, Councilor Keith Bona acknowledged that it could seem like favorites were picked because it didn’t go to the highest bidder, whose offer Macksey said was about $20,000 higher.

However, Macksey said she ultimately chose the bid because her administration decided it was in the best interest of the city.

A 2024 amendment to the state’s tax foreclosure statute under Section 64A says that if a municipality intends to sell a foreclosed property, it must list it with a licensed broker or real estate agent. If 12 months pass without a sale, the city then has to auction off the property.

This statute does not require municipalities to sell to the highest bidder when listed with a real estate agent. If the property does reach the auction stage, then price and bid rules take effect.