By Anne Holzman

The Falcon Heights City Council has negotiated the purchase of the Get Pressed dry-cleaning site at 1407 Larpenteur Ave. with the intent to clean it up and sell it to a developer.

The council agreed at its April 8 meeting to spend about $300,000 plus fees to acquire the two adjacent parcels, which have sat unused for many years and have become a nuisance due to dumping and graffiti.

Before it was used for dry cleaning, the site was a fuel station, and underground tanks remain. The city has been working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to test soil and plan a cleanup process.

The property would likely be eligible for housing, but the city has not determined a use for it.

An assessor valued it at $670,000, but it likely needs about $370,000 invested in cleanup, so the city arrived at a purchase agreement at the “as is” value of $300,000.

The city has 60 days from the date of approval to execute a purchase agreement.

Anne Holzman covers Falcon Heights and Lauderdale city government news for the Bugle.