Manteca wants to buy what is without a doubt the most iconic — and oldest — downtown building along with the central district’s most prime location, an adjoining parcel now serving as a parking lot.

The City Council is meeting behind closed doors Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. to discuss price and potential purchase of the historic two-story brick structure now housing Manteca Bedquarters.

It was known for years as the Manteca International Order of Oddfellows building.

The negotiation also includes two separate parcels that are where the parking lot is on the northwest corner of Yosemite Avenue and Main Street at the heart of Manteca.

It is the second time this year the potential acquisition has been on the agenda for a closed meeting. State law allows local governments to conduct discussions regarding negotiations such as for property as well as personnel and pending litigation away from the public.

 City officials declined to comment.

Typically, what cities will do with older buildings in a downtown area they want to see revitalized and repurposed is to acquire such property when it is becomes available.

They actively seek out a buyer to convert it to a preferred use.

A IOOF Hall in Lincoln in Placer County that was built in the 1910s and was a spitting image of the Yosemite Avenue building, was converted into a three-floor restaurant and beer pub know as Beerman’s. It was named after a pioneer Lincoln family.

The Manteca IOOF, with high ceilings on both floors, could easily be converted into three stories.

The city previously purchased the former county health clinic building on Sycamore Avenue as well as two vacant parcels on the northwest corner of Sycamore and Yosemite avenues.

The health clinic at 124 Sycamore Ave. was remodeled and now serves as a downtown public safety annex.

It houses the police department’s community resource officers and code enforcement divisions. The Manteca Fire Department’s fire marshal/fire preventions services are also located there.

The city is working with a non-profit to secure funding for a five-story structure at Sycamore and Yosemite. The ground floor would have retail space while the four floors above would provide apartments for low-income seniors.

Cowell built the

Building in 1911

The Manteca IOOF building was constructed in 1911 by Joshua Cowell; the founder of Manteca whose home was kitty corner where his home stood and the Bank of America is mow located.

 An excerpt from the June 25, 1911 edition of the Manteca Enterprise noted, “Josh Cowell was presented at the real house warming of his new office building in Manteca Monday with a box of cigars. Mr. Cowell has added to his reputation as a public-spirited citizen who is willing to back up his spirit with the cash.

“He now has a building which is a masterpiece to any town. The lighting is good in the new building and the furnishings are up to date.

“The I.O.O.F. rooms on the second floor are neat and nicely furnished and Saturday night the hall be opened for the grand institution and installation.”

The first floor for decades housed two spaces occupied by either retail, officers, or a combination.

The oldest commercial building in Manteca, its ground floor space in the community’s early days was used as a library and post office.

During World War II, the eastern portion housed Turner Hardware.

It was on the eastern facing wall during the war where a large billboard eventually listed the name of every man and woman — all 963 of them — from Manteca and its surrounding area that served during the war.

Today, it is where the five veterans’ murals commissioned by the Manteca Mural Society can be found.

Prior to Manteca Bed quarters opening in the early 1990s on the ground floor it housed Hancock Fabrics.

The corner parcels had a Chevron service and gas station until the early 1960s.

The city since the 1990s approached the owner of the parcels where the gas station once stood in bid to buy them for civic use such as a combined mini-park and parking lot.

As part of the Vision 2020 Task Force efforts, a consultant produced renderings of what an office building would look like on the parcels.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com

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