A vacant lot in downtown Robbinsdale could go back to the future, as the City Council has approved a letter of support for a new nursing home.

Two years ago, the Crystal Lake nursing home was demolished at 3815 W. Broadway Ave., but now its owners, the Good Samaritan Society, are proposing another three-story nursing home at the site.

To proceed with requests for state funding, the nonprofit organization needed a letter of support from the City Council. The letter was approved 4-1 at a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 18, with Councilmember Dan Rogan voting against the approval.

While the council approved sending a letter of support, the project still has a long way to go before approval. A specific site plan for the project still needs approval from the council. As of now, the Good Samaritan Society is planning for a 96-bed facility. It would focus more on independent living, with private bedrooms and baths and multiple small living rooms and kitchen areas.

Council members who voted in favor of the letter said they generally approved of the project. Some, including Councilmember Bill Blonigan, expressed regret that if the project went through, it would not generate any revenue for the city's tax rolls given the project's nonprofit status.

Blonigan suggested that when it came time for formal project approval, Good Samaritan Homes would be well served to come forward with a sustainable model that would rank among the most efficient buildings in the city.

"It would go a long way toward me feeling better about this if it was in some way harmonious with the earth," he said.

In other council news:

- The council gave final approval to an amendment of a city ordinance regarding graffiti abatement.

Under the amended ordinance, the person responsible for graffiti on private property must remove it. If the offender isn't found, the property owner would be given 10 days to remove the graffiti. If the property owner doesn't take care of the problem, the city may remove the graffiti and assess the property owner for the services.

The amendment passed unanimously, but Councilmember George Selman urged residents to communicate with city staff if more time was needed to remove graffiti.

"I support this 100 percent," he said. "I just want people to know they can work with the city staff on these deadlines."

- The council voted 4-1 in favor of staff moving forward with preparing an ordinance requiring point-of-sale inspections on house sales in the city. Councilmember Tom Mathias voted against the measure.

"I'm not convinced that having an ordinance is going to create a better situation," said Mathias, adding he felt the ordinance would add undue costs to the buyer and seller.

The ordinance would require a city-approved outside inspector to examine the home. The inspector must disclose repair issues and only require repair of hazardous conditions.

The council will vote on the first reading of a more detailed ordinance at its Tuesday, Dec. 2, meeting.

"I want to see this moved relatively quickly because we're going to see a lot of homes change hands in the coming months," Mayor Mike Holtz said.

- The council voted unanimously in favor of buying a new fire engine for the city for $553,662.

The new engine will replace a fire engine that was 29 years old. According to Fire Chief Mark Fairchild, the old engine was undergoing repairs every month or two and was a safety hazard because its rear cab was not enclosed.

Fairchild said the average life of the city's fire trucks was 30 years and if all goes as planned, another engine wouldn't need to be purchased for another 10 years.

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.

- The council voted 4-1 in favor of staff moving forward with preparing an ordinance requiring point-of-sale inspections on house sales in the city. Councilmember Tom Mathias voted against the measure.

"I'm not convinced that having an ordinance is going to create a better situation," said Mathias, adding he felt the ordinance would add undue costs to the buyer and seller.

The ordinance would require a city-approved outside inspector to examine the home. The inspector must disclose repair issues and only require repair of hazardous conditions.

The council will vote on the first reading of a more detailed ordinance at its Tuesday, Dec. 2, meeting.

"I want to see this moved relatively quickly because we're going to see a lot of homes change hands in the coming months," Mayor Mike Holtz said.

- The council voted unanimously in favor of buying a new fire engine for the city for $553,662.

The new engine will replace a fire engine that was 29 years old. According to Fire Chief Mark Fairchild, the old engine was undergoing repairs every month or two and was a safety hazard because its rear cab was not enclosed.

Fairchild said the average life of the city's fire trucks was 30 years and if all goes as planned, another engine wouldn't need to be purchased for another 10 years.

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.