The Coffee House on Main could change ownership at the end of December.

At Wednesday's Port Authority meeting, City Administrator Pat McGarvey announced Kyle Keenan's proposal to buy the business. The new lease would last until Aug. 31, 2006 and would begin Jan. 1, 2003.

"The issue will be solved and paid as soon as the deal between the two parties is arranged," McGarvey said.

Keenan, an Austin native who worked in tech-support in Minneapolis, said the closing day on the business is Dec. 27.

"It (the business) is going to be my first priority," Keenan said.

His family will be involved in the business, too, he said. His sister Sarah will be in charge of the marketing as well as his parents Mary and Jerry, Keenan said.

"We are sad in some respect. We had plans, but as our family grew it was impossible to run it,"

said Mike Lee, current owner of the Coffee House. Lee said that he is excited to have someone such as Keenan take over because he is from Austin.

In a previous meeting, the Port Authority set up a court day for Friday in regards to Lee's delinquent rents for July, August and September. Lee had informed McGarvey that he did not have the funds and could not pay unless his business was sold.

A previous sale fell through so the board went ahead with the eviction process. If the board receives a certified check before Friday, the issue will be closed. If not, the parties will need to go before the judge and explain the situation.

In other business the Port Authority:

n Approved a sublease between Cynthia Low and Jack Jensen and Associates for suite 2002 at the Town Center.

n Approved an extension of the purchase of the Burbank addition by Tom Sherman to June 1, 2003. Sherman is waiting to get for a federal grant from the county.

Roxana Orellana can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at roxana.orellana@austindailyherald.com