AUBURN – Auburn is trying something new, advertising a tax-acquired, three-story Granite Street house for sale on the city’s Web site, www.auburnmaine.com.

“We don’t have a lot of tax-acquired properties, and we work real hard with the owners to get them back in when we do,” said Auburn Community Relations Manager Laurie Smith. “It’s rare that we have any go out to bid in this manner at all.”

The city is accepting sealed bids on the 19 Granite St. building through Jan. 29. The city is starting the bidding at $68,000.

An open house is scheduled from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The city took over the building in 2000, Smith said. Built in 1883, it features three apartments, one on each floor. The first two are two-bedroom, one-bath units. The third floor apartment features one bedroom and one bath. The building has about 3,000 square feet of floor space.

Smith said the city worked with the previous owners for several months in an attempt to clear up their back taxes.

“But we were never able to do that,” she said. “After that, the city looks at it and tries to determine if any city departments could use it. All of the departments and sub-agencies go through and see if there is a reason to keep it.”

Next, the city offers the property to abutters and neighbors.

“Usually, we can get the property taken care of at this point,” she said. “This is the only piece of property that I can think of that we’ve had to put out on the open market.”

The building has been vacant for the last 18 months, and does need some repairs.

“We winterized it, but it’s not being heated,” Smith said. “In terms of repairs, they appear to be pretty minor.”

Parts of the roof need to be repaired, she said, and the building may need a new sewer pipe.

“I don’t think anybody has done a formal inspection of the property,” she said. “There may be some updating people will want to do inside.”

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