Put up for auction last week, a century-old industrial building now belongs to York City.

The city's Redevelopment Authority bought the former Bond Sanitary Products Inc. property at 134 E. King St. for $150,000.

But none of that is public money. All of it came from an anonymous contributor, said Kevin Schreiber, the city's economic and community development director.

"We're being reimbursed 100 percent," Schreiber said.

Soon, he said, the RDA will transfer the building to a group of investors who are planning "an arts-related development."

Having "not yet hammered out every single detail of the project," those investors asked the RDA to attend the auction Aug. 4, Schreiber said. He said that made sense for the RDA, which works to facilitate economic development in the city.

Schreiber called the potential project "a big win." It could add to the tax base and draw people downtown, he said.

"The systems are all in place. The roof is pretty sound. There aren't a whole lot of 45,000-square-foot buildings sitting in the city of York that are available for sale," Schreiber said. "There are interested individuals in potentially developing it, which is a great thing."

Interested: Among them are members of Parliament, a group of volunteers who promote local artists.

For about a year and a half, Parliament has used its property at 116 E. King St. to host poets, musicians and artists. They also help creative folks find gigs and gallery space around York.

Alex Dwyer, a Parliament founder, said the group is hoping to transform part of the building into studio space for artists and musicians. But, she said, nothing is finalized.

"We're working on extensive plans for it," Dwyer said.

The former factory is among the collection of buildings designed by prolific York architect J.A. Dempwolf.

From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, it was home to Billmeyer & Small Co., a railcar manufacturer that operated at many locations throughout York, according to city records.

Later, it was used by the Anderson Motor Co. Inc., known as "home of the Studebaker in York."

In 1962, it was bought by W.H.B. Corp., which operated Bond Sanitary Products Inc., a cleaning supplies vendor that closed in recent years.

Features of the property include indoor parking for 20 cars, loading docks to accommodate large trucks, a roll-up door with a ramp to access the building's second level, lunch and conference rooms, a large computer room, offices, restrooms and a showroom area.

-- Erin James may also be reached at ejames@yorkdispatch.com.