The City of Columbiana is continuing its efforts to purchase a tract of land that was the home of Summer Classics, an outdoor furniture factory that burned down in May 2004.

City officials had threatened to use eminent domain on the land after owner Bow White placed a $1.1 million price tag on the 4.66-acre tract.

The city appraised the land at $320,000 in Sept. 2004.

&8220;We presented a preliminary proposal to the owner&8217;s attorney,&8221; Columbiana mayor Allan Lowe said on Thursday. &8220;Lawyers from both sides will be meeting this week to go over it.&8221;

Lowe met with representatives from Gresham, Smith and Partners yesterday to look over a proposed layout for the property if the city were to move forward and purchase it.

Columbiana officials are hoping to utilize the land as a mixed-use area for residential and retail, as well as a possible home for the Academy of Fine Arts of Shelby County.

&8220;Our first priority is to the residential and commercial,&8221; Lowe said. &8220;The residential aspect would center around multi-family developments.&8221;

Lowe said there were a number of caveats in the agreement, including assurance of environmental conditions, debris removal from the site and no legal issues pending once the transaction is complete.

&8220;We&8217;re hoping to bring this proposal to the council very shortly,&8221; Lowe said. &8220;We want to have it approved before the end of the fiscal year.&8221;

White was unavailable for comment on the proposal