City set to buy Howard Johnson's property

By Ben Antonius Daily Republic May 13, 2010 16:37

FAIRFIELD - The end of Howard Johnson's is nigh.Perhaps Fairfield's most famous vacancy, the fading orange building could soon be no more. The city has apparently reached a tentative deal to buy the North Texas Street property from its longtime owner for $4.5 million. Once escrow closes, the wrecking crews will come.'Once we acquire the property, we will remove the building and put the property on the market,' said Curt Johnston, economic development manager for the city.Longtime property owner Edward Carter didn't return calls to his Pacifica office seeking comment.The sale is the first major change for the site since the restaurant closed in the early 1990s. The lack of activity wasn't due to a shortage of ideas. Past proposals have included a hotel, dance club, gas station and fast food uses.Johnston said the property is large enough to potentially accommodate more than one business, but he said the city isn't seeking a specific kind of proposal.

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Reach Ben Antonius at 427-6977 or bantonius@dailyrepublic.net.