Officials in Sharon plan to demolish several dilapidated buildings on State Street to build a parking lot, but businessman James E. Winner Jr. wants to see the area become green space and he wants to see other improvements in the city.

Council voted Thursday to buy two buildings at tax sale, one of which housed the former Elite Fashions, at East State Street and Sharpsville Avenue. The city is assured of getting the buildings for a bid of $500 each because no one bid on them at a public auction, Mayor David O. Ryan said.

The $237,500 needed to demolish the buildings and build a parking lot will come from a Community Development Block Grant.

Winner asked council to consider making the area a park and offered to donate a fountain.

Ryan said the area must be a parking lot open to all residents in order to use the CDBG money.