The owners of the building, the Salem Institute of Art, want to give it to the city so they won't have to foot the bill to rehab or demolish it.

The building was damaged by the demolition of the adjacent Tanfastic structure last month.  

Mayor John Berlin says he hopes council makes a decision at their next meeting. "I'm hoping the committee can meet in short order so a decision can be made either to move forward and accept the gift or to tell the Salem Art Institute that we aren't interested so they can make a decision as to what they want to do," Berlin said. 

 The mayor says the Butler building would need to be remodeled, torn down or auctioned off if they city decided to take control of it.