After sitting empty for years, the lot upon which the Murphy-Beauchamp Home formerly sat has finally been sold by the Union County Quorum Court.
In June, Union County Judge Mike Loftin sought approval from Justices of the Peace to put the lot up for bidding. All JPs in attendance agreed that it should be sold.
The home has been a source of consternation for the county for several years.
History of a home
Originally a private residence belonging to Mrs. J.E. Murphy, Dr. and Mrs. Randolph Murphy donated the Murphy-Beauchamp Home to the Union County Youth Center in 1971. The home was named after Murphy and Mrs. J.D. Beauchamp Sr., a former Union County probation officer.
After sitting empty for several years, the Quorum Court in 2014 approved a resolution allowing Loftin to accept public bids on the Murphy-Beauchamp Home, which by then had deteriorated considerably from its original condition and was no longer habitable.
Loftin said squatters, those without property rights, were known to stay inside the residence. The Murphy-Beauchamp Home was located at 503 E. Hillsboro, near the Salvation Army.
No one purchased the home and in 2015, residents approached the El Dorado City Council about the property. Council members learned that residents in that neighborhood felt unsafe living near the home, which at that point was abandoned and had been vandalized.
The home was torn down about three years ago, after being slated for condemnation by the El Dorado City Council in 2015.
“We have no use for it,” Loftin said in June. “They’re going to get part of it when they widen Hillsboro anyway,” he continued, referring to a planned highway-widening project along Highway 82B that will widen all of Hillsboro Street.
Loftin advertised the open bidding for the lot in June and July, with a minimum amount of $3,300 for the lot specified.
“No bids,” he announced at the August Quorum Court meeting.
Sold!
With no bids submitted to the county at the
minimum level, Loftin brought a prospective bidder into the meeting to present his case at a lower bid amount.
Markeith Cook, representing B.L. Breggs and Associates, an insurance and real estate investment firm in El Dorado, approached the Quorum Court with a bid of $1,650.
“I’m part of a small business group and we’re looking to get smaller lots throughout the city and county where we can find them,” Cook said. “Right now we don’t have a specific plan for that lot, but we have some options if we’re able to receive it.”
Cook said the real estate investment arm of his company has already acquired several lots in the area and are considering building affordable housing, along with other projects he did not reveal.
“Anything that happens with that lot would be an improvement, even if it just gets cleaned up,” Loftin said.
Cook said if the Quorum Court approved his bid, he already had a cleaner lined up for the lot.
District 1 JP Mike Dumas moved to approve Cook’s bid with District 5 JP Carolyn Jones seconding the motion. The JPs unanimously approved Cook’s bid in a voice vote.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].