The owner of a historic South End fire station has extended his deadline for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission to "come up with a solution" to preserve the property, citing public interest in the 100-year-old building.

The commission, in turn, has asked the developer to name a new price.

Last week, the commission offered to buy the red brick building at 1212 South Blvd. for $950,000. The owner, Marcel Stark, rejected the offer and said he was negotiating with an investors group that wanted to tear down the building. Stark, who has permission to destroy the historic landmark in May, had given the commission until Wednesday to submit a new offer.

On Tuesday, Stark e-mailed the commission, saying he will extend the date "with hopes of a solution for the Landmark Commission, for myself and most important for the City of Charlotte," according to the e-mail.

The next day, the commission e-mailed Stark saying it would "entertain" a price the developer suggests, but cautioned it would not pay an amount the groups previously discussed, according to the e-mail. Stark has told the commission he believes the property, when fully restored, would be worth between $1.8 million and $2 million.

Stark told the Observer he'd like to preserve the fire station but can't without the commission's help.

"I am a small business owner and can't afford to maintain and take losses on a building indefinitely," he told the Observer in a written statement.

In an interview, he said he feels he's been unfairly portrayed.

"I did the right thing. I could have just torn it down if I wanted to," Stark said. "I don't want this torn down."

Stark, who along with investors paid $1.03 million for the property in May 2006, said he has offered "numerous suggestions" to save the property during the past two years. For example, he said, he asked the commission to help pay for renovations in exchange for deed restrictions.

He also said he was going to bring a salon and medical spa he was helping fund to the 4,400-square-foot building. He has previously asked for assistance paying for $450,000 in renovations.

Commission consulting director Dan Morrill said his group does not give grants and spends money only on renovating property it owns.

Created in 1973, the commission uses taxpayer money to buy buildings, which it then resells after adding covenants to protect the structures in the future. Morrill said the commission offered Stark what it believes is fair market value.

"I think the big issue is (Stark) owns the building. The fate of the building is in his hands, plain and simple," Morrill said. "Mr. Stark indicated if he sold it to us, it would be economically detrimental to his interests. I don't deny that at all. But we cannot pay beyond what a reasonable price is for the property."

A review of e-mails exchanged between Stark and the commission and obtained by the Observer under the N.C. Public Records Law shows the developer was having trouble finding money to renovate the fire station.

The commission's chairman, Bill Hobbs, has told the Observer it would be "reckless" to use taxpayer money to pay an "inflated" price above what a recent appraisal showed the 7,500-square-foot property and building to be worth.

"We just want to make our investment at a fair price," Hobbs said.

Property values across the region have fallen during the recession and many investors have found themselves holding failed investments.

Adding to investors' woes, demand for commercial real estate remains lackluster because buyers can't get financing.

Morrill said he has received calls and e-mails from residents this week who said they wanted to see the building preserved.

Stark said he too has received e-mails and calls on the issue, many expressing support. He said he is meeting today with representatives from neighboring Dilworth to discuss options.

He said he feels he has presented the commission with various scenarios, other than an outright sale of the building, that should be considered.

"Let's talk alternative solutions," he said. Staff researcher Maria David contributed