In an attempt to improve the image of the Fifth Street corridor, the Niles City Council has purchased three properties near the intersection of North Fifth and Wayne streets.

The decision to purchase the three vacant lots for a total of $3,847.10 was made during a special meeting Monday evening.

“Our goal is to try and control that corner and clean it up and make it a nice entrance (to Niles),” said City Administrator Ric Huff.

The three plots of land do not have physical addresses.

The first, purchased from Larry Gene Williams for $2,147 (including an agreement to pay on it the 2014 summer and winter taxes), is located on Wayne Street between North Fifth and North Sixth streets.

The other two lots were purchased for $1,700 from Noah Logan Wade Webb. The first is located on North Sixth Street between Wayne and Eagle streets and the second is located immediately to the south of the old Forler’s Bakery property on the corner of Wayne and North Fifth streets.

Huff said the city purchased the old Forler’s corner lot in a county tax sale last fall. It is in the process of being demolished by the county at no cost to the city.

The city also owns the corner lot across the street from the old Forler’s property. A sign welcoming people to the city stands upon that plot of land.