Oversight board approves transfer of Lawler House sidewalk and fireplace parcels to Suisun City for $5,000

The Solano County consolidated oversight board on Sept. 10 approved a resolution directing disposal and sale to Suisun City of two small portions of the Lawler House property — a sidewalk access strip (about 1,146 square feet) and a fireplace plaza (about 221 square feet) — for $5,000, conditioned on a lot-line adjustment and concurrent closing of the courtyard sale.

Patrick Enright, city attorney and counsel for the successor agency, said the remainder of the Lawler House parcel retains its building footprint, parking and main-street frontage and that most of the transfer area is already subject to easements so it cannot be independently developed. "The full value of the Lawler House was valued at a 100,000," Enright said. He told the board the 1,367 square feet of remnant area has little or no development capacity and that $5,000 exceeds what the agency will be giving up.

Board members pressed why staff proposed a conveyance rather than granting an easement. A board member said a sale reduces the Lawler House’s footprint and could reduce developer interest unless the board and staff can show that value is being maximized. Enright and staff said they plan a reappraisal of the Lawler House and expect to return in three to six months with additional information; the board recorded the resolution with the stated condition and voted 4-0 to approve COB 26-13.