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NP Chamber/DEVCO News Release
Today, the North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corporation announced an agreement has been reached with developer Jay Mitchell to obtain ownership of the historic Pawnee Hotel. The Chamber Development Corporation went through a four month process in order to secure the building’s ownership through the tax lien notification process, as well as redeeming the delinquent property taxes on the building. Mitchell had legal standing with the property having previously purchasing a delinquent bank loan associated with the previous ownership, and had first lien holding.
Both parties realized it was in everyone’s best interest to come to an agreement, so that the property wouldn’t further be compromised with time delays and legal entanglements. An agreement was reached on Wednesday and announced at a press conference on Thursday. More details will be released later and watch for local news reports on today’s announcement.
Speaking on behalf of the Chamber Development Corporation’s Board of Directors, Chairman Dr. Ben Lashley said the board made a conscientious decision on behalf of community betterment and was willing to take a risk in order get the Pawnee building back into a useful life in the downtown corridor. “We felt obligated to move the Pawnee forward and were successful in getting the process off dead center. We look forward to movement happening immediately to restore the historic building,” Lashley said, complementing the board and staff in the role that unfolded over the last several months.
Chamber Board member and legal counsel Bill Troshynski, who handled the negotiations with Mitchell and other entities involved in the legal entanglement and Chamber President Gary Person also spoke at the press conference detailing various aspects of the project’s development.