ELLERBE — The Ellerbe Town Council voted to keep a vacant downtown building at 112 W. Page St. as a rental property and approved increasing the monthly rent to $600 during a recent meeting.
The building, located next to Ellerbe Town Hall and the post office, has been vacant since February after the previous tenant did not renew the lease.
According to Ellerbe Mayor Lee Berry, the town purchased the property in 2006 for $33,000. The building most recently rented for $475 per month after the rent was increased from $375 in January 2025.
The town installed a new roof on the building in September 2024 at a cost of $11,185. The yearly property insurance is $240, and the current tax value is $31,891, which is lower than the original purchase price.
“I understand the property was purchased years ago in 2006 in case town hall ever wanted to expand,” said Berry. “They got more parking, they got more property— if we wanted to ever build a town hall and give the fire department more property her to add on to, that’s the way I understood it to be purchased.”
Berry said he would prefer the town keep the property and continue renting it rather than selling it.
“I would like to see it rented…. Because when you sell it, you’re gonna give up real estate, you’re going to give up more parking for town, customers, because once they take that property, they may not want us to park on it for meetings and events. I think we can make money off of it.”
Council member Jeremy McKenzie asked whether the property had any potential tenants. Berry said a barbershop owner has expressed interest and plans to call back once the council decides whether the town will keep the building to rent or sell it.
Council member Heather Pack said she believes the town should keep the property and continue renting it.
Council member Jimmy Bowles asked whether it would be feasible to tear down the building to construct a new town hall and give the fire department additional space using the current town hall property. Berry and Mayor Pro-Tem John Sears both responded, “not for a while.”
Berry suggested the council revisit the discussion in the future once the town finishes paying off its fire truck.