The Bellaire City Council tonight finalized the gift of the former Teas Nursery property to be used as a city park.
The Teas family, which owned the Teas Nursery for nearly 100 years, announced in November of 2009 that it would close the business and sell the property. The Jerry and Maury Rubenstein Foundation purchased the Teas property in December of 2009 with the intent to donate the property to the City of Bellaire. The property will be used as a conservancy, a public park and for public recreational purposes.
Council approved the memorandum of understanding for the property during its Dec. 6 meeting. Council met in a closed executive session on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 to discuss the property but no action was taken.
Council tonight approved 6-to-1 the formal agreement for the property and two deeds. Councilmember James Avioli, Sr. was opposed.
One deed conveys the property to the city from the Jerry and Maury Rubenstein Foundation and the other deed reconveys the property back to the Rubenstein Foundation if certain terms have not been met within a specified period of time.
Avioli said he still had reservations about the financial recourse to the city if the property is reconvened to the Rubenstein Foundation.
“I can’t support these agreements as written,” he said after thanking the Rubenstein’s for their donation.
Council approved the formal agreement and deeds for the property after thanking the Rubenstein’s for their donation to the city.
“We’re thrilled to finally vote on this,” Mayor Cindy Siegel said. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
The land has been named Evelyn’s Park in honor of Maury and Jerry Rubenstein’s mother, Siegel said.
Council is in the process of selecting four residents, including one Parks and Recreation Board member, to serve on the Evelyn’s Park Conservancy.
Facebook Comments