The Homewood Village Board approved an ordinance June 23 allowing staff to begin the process of soliciting bids for the sale of a village-owned property at 18157 Dixie Highway, formerly resale shop Repeat Boutique.

The village purchased the property in May for $100,000 from Grand Prairie Services Integrated Health. The building has been vacant since 2024 and requires significant interior rehabilitation, according to Noah Schumerth, Homewood director of economic and community development. 

According to Schumerth, the property was acquired by the village as part of a broader effort to encourage commercial redevelopment in the downtown area. The site is located within the village’s B-2 Downtown Transition zoning district and near several redevelopment projects, including Homewood Brewing Company, Bawadi’s restaurant project and the planned Tequila Raizes restaurant.

The village initially considered selling the property as surplus real estate, which would have allowed a sale without competitive bidding if an offer met certain requirements. However, there was limited interest in purchasing the property at the required minimum price, Schumerth said. 

Instead, staff will solicit competitive bids by publishing notices once a week for three consecutive weeks in a local newspaper, he said. 

The first notice will be published June 26, followed by notices July 3 and July 10. Bids will be due by noon July 24 and are scheduled to be opened during the July 28 board meeting, Schumerth said. 

The village will also advertise the opportunity through its website, social media channels and other publications, he said. 

According to Schumerth, redeveloping the property could increase property tax revenue and generate additional sales tax or places of eating tax revenue if the site is redeveloped for commercial use. The project would also support the village’s Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Plan by improving activity and the appearance of the Dixie Highway corridor.