Sources with the city have confirmed that the city is close to signing a lease agreement with a tenant that would fill the former Taco Bell property.

As negotiations are still taking place, officials were not able to go into details, but they could confirm that the only major hurdle in the way of an agreement is related to HVAC at the location. The business will also be locally owned.

Mauldin purchased the property for nearly $300,000 in December of last year with the idea that it would be integral to plans for a City Center. Some, however, thought the purchase lacked transparency and city officials later said it could have been handled better.

City Administrator Trey Eubanks said an official announcement could come as soon as the May 21 City Council meeting.

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