A year ago the Putnam Commons, Union Station and Glass Press properties in downtown Marietta, valued at more than $1.1 million, went on the auction block at a sheriff's foreclosure sale for a minimum bid of $740,000 - but there were no takers.

This week all three buildings were sold for $350,000 to a limited liability company headed by local physician Dr. Roger Anderson.

"These are large properties with incredible potential if developed properly," said Marietta Mayor Michael Mullen, who said he had talked with Anderson about the buildings earlier this year.

"Dr. Anderson has done great restoration work with other properties he has owned, and it's good to see a Washington County native is purchasing these buildings," Mullen added.

Anderson could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Glass Press Properties Ltd., in care of Warfield Realtors LLC of Parkersburg, officially purchased the buildings from former owner Glass Press Inc. on Friday, according to the property transfer entry at the Washington County Auditor's Office.

Bob Wright, owner of Warfield Realtors, was designated as receiver for the properties by RBS Citizens, NA, of Cleveland, who were plaintiffs in the foreclosure case.

The Glass Press, located at 217 Union St.; Union Station, at 206-212 Putnam St.; and Putnam Commons, at 117-121 Putnam St., all belonged to former Glass Press owner Dave Richardson, who closed the collectibles magazine business and took a position as senior pastor at a church in Oak Hill, W.Va., in the fall of 2006.

Although the buildings have been sold, Warfield Realtors will continue to manage the properties.

"(Glass Press Properties Ltd.) had been looking at the buildings for quite a while," Wright said. "The inside facilities are in good shape, and there are plans to spruce up the outside of the buildings."

There are currently seven tenants in Putnam Commons, three tenants in the Union Station building and one tenant in the Glass Press warehouse facility on the back side of the Union Station building.

"We have great tenants in all three buildings, and everyone has been patient with us as we sought to find a buyer for the property," Wright said. "And I think those people will be rewarded as new businesses come in."

Marietta resident Amy Gentry plans to open Amy Gentry Photography on the first floor of Putnam Commons before the end of January.

"I've been doing some individual and family portrait photography for about two years now, and decided to set up a studio here," she said.

"I was looking around for a location and came in here one day," Gentry said. "All the tenants seemed to be so nice."

In addition to the photography shop, Joe Brandjes, owner of Joe's Hotz N Brotz, said Friday that Salem Candles Gallery of Light, currently located across the street at 112 Putnam St., will be moving into Putnam Commons by the end of January.

In addition to Joe's Hotz N Brotz, other current Putnam Commons tenants include the Marietta/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Marietta Community Foundation.

Tenants at Union Station include the Pioneer Hearing Aid Center, Bauer Vision Center and Juda's Hair Again.