Superior officials last week voted to spend $540,000 to buy a property for open space that was destroyed by the 2021 Marshall fire.

Parks, Recreation and Open Space Director Leslie Clark said the 0.28-acre Rodelli property is at 216 S. Third Ave. It’s next to Coal Creek in an area the town wants to keep open for flood mitigation.

A house on the land was destroyed in the fire, and the land is vacant. Town officials would change the zoning to open space for conservation and flood mitigation, Clark said. Clark said the property is adjacent to the town floodplain.

Mayor Mark Lacis said town officials are able to buy the properties because the structures on them are not being rebuilt. He said that the town is making the best of an awful situation.

“While it’s great that we are able to preserve this for open space, it comes at an unfortunate, terrible cost that the structures were lost and the homes were lost,” Lacis said.

Superior previously bought nearby land damaged by the Marshall fire with the intent of making it open space. Town officials bought the Kilbride property at 213 S. Second Ave. in October for $615,000, The property had residential structures that were destroyed in the fire and the property was vacant when the town bought it. Officials bought the Marcel J.C. Arsenault and Superior Preservation LLC properties on Charles Street for $750,000 in January 2023. Officials bought the McNulty property at 208 Third Ave. for $1,335,000 in October. — Daily Camera