The city of Lafayette is moving forward with negotiations to buy the vacant Chase Bank building and an adjacent parking lot on Public Road, in a potential deal that would come after years of the Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority having its eye on the parking space — and amid broader efforts from the city to fill vacant commercial properties downtown.

JPMorgan Chase, the property owner, listed two lots — the 200 N. Public Road building and the 108 N. Public Road parking area — for sale together with a price tag of $2.7 million. The city had already submitted a letter of intent for $2.6 million, which the company preliminarily accepted, according to city staff’s presentation during the council meeting. The city manager approved the drafted purchase agreement Aug. 28, and City Council gave s

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