Slavery Museum Land Auction Delayed; Suns Contract to Purchase Site

City of Fredericksburg treasurer Jim Haney approved a 150 day delay of the Oct. 31 public auction of the U.S. National Slavery Museum property.

Haney made the decision after receiving a copy of a signed contract between  the Hagerstown Suns and Diamond Nation with the slavery museum organization and its largest creditor -- Pei Partnership Architects -- to buy the 38-acres in Celebrate Virginia South.

“The Treasurer’s Office finds itself in an unusual and unique position to advance a historic economic development deal for the City of Fredericksburg," Haney said in a press release.

"My office is now in receipt of a signed contract between the National Slavery Museum, the property lien holder and the professional and amateur baseball partnership for purchase of the property and resolution of all debts to the City and liens that have encumbered the property for years."

The total taxes, penalty, interest and related fees owed to the city by the National Slavery Museum is approximately $450,000, Brenda Wood, chief deputy treasurer, said.

The 150 day delay gives the parties time to finalize the sale.

"If, after 150 days, the project is invalidated or otherwise cancelled, the sale [auction] proceedings will be reinstated and the property sold for back taxes and fees," Wood said.

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